INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian society is reeling from a historic crackdown on dissent which has intensified since President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine
24.Rights activists fear the new legislation will be used to snuff out any last vestiges of dissent."The changes are an adequate and timely
response to the challenges that our country is currently facing," senior lawmaker Vasily Piskarev said in a statement released by the lower
considered a form of espionage and is to be punishable by between 10 and 20 years in jail.Putin's decision to send troops to Ukraine has led
to a further clampdown on freedom of speech and media in the country and sparked an exodus of foreign and independent Russian
discrediting its military forces.
