On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin of Russia signed into law legislation that redefines treason for the country. The new law comes at a time when many feel it will be used as a way to quiet the government’s dissenters. The new law covers even those Russians who do not work in foreign intelligence services. Anyone can be convicted of treason if they pass on any state secrets to a foreign entity.
Actual secrets do not have to be divulged for someone to be charged with treason under the new sweeping law. The only things that need to occur is for an individual to provide assistance or consulting to any international group or foreign state that is against Russia’s security.
The new law could cause defendants to spend a minimum of eight years behind bars. Human rights activists have called the new treason law a way of scaring people into cutting off ties with any Western non-governmental organizations.
Valentin Danilov was a physicist convicted eight years ago for treason. Russian authorities said he was spying for China and sentenced him to 14 years. His sentence was recently reduced by three years and he is due to be released next week. He admitted to selling technology to a business in China, but said the information he sold was already available through public sources.
Many human rights campaigners said Danilov was arrested and convicted to intimidate other academics from continuing ties with other countries.
