Interfax: New anti-terrorism bills won’t harm citizens’ rights – Yarovaya

Russian State Duma Building file photo

MOSCOW. Jan 21 (Interfax) – The “anti-terrorist” package of bills will not restrict citizens’ rights and is aimed at preventing the financing of organized crime, Irina Yarovaya, chairman of the State Duma committee on security and corruption prevention, said.

“Our logic is to propose additional measures for ensuring collective security measures. We want to disarm terrorists and deprive them of sources of information and financing. This law doesn’t infringe on citizens’ rights. On the contrary, it provides additional protection of citizens’ rights and security,” she told reporters on Tuesday.

Commenting on some initiatives set forth in the bills, which have drawn the most public response, Yarovaya reiterated that the bills will not worsen the situation of law-abiding citizens.

“Methods of payment involving anonymous payments are actively used in criminal activities, including drug trafficking, the dissemination of child pornography, and the financing of terrorism. An overwhelming majority of citizens use personified payments, which do no require anonymity,” she said.

Yarovaya reiterated that the bills do not envisage a full ban on anonymous payments.

“Citizens can and will be able to make payments using the Internet. If a citizen wants to use an anonymous payment, we do not impose a full ban, but we suggest limiting anonymous payments to 1,000 rubles a day and 15,000 rubles a month,” she said.

Yarovaya also said she does not see any problems with the storage of information by providers.

“We are using international experience here. There is an EU directive requiring providers to store information for six to 24 months. Large providers do not have any questions about that,” she said.

Vladislav Grib, a member of the Russian Public Chamber, said the Russian Public Chamber agrees with the amendments.

“Security issues are a priority for citizens. Naturally, we will discuss these bills in public hearings. However, we back the policies stated in these bills,” he said.

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