MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's lower house of parliament passed a Kremlin-sponsored law on combatting political extremism Thursday, a measure many lawmakers and human rights groups say would give the government too much power.
Lawmakers in the Duma voted 271 to 141 with one abstention to pass the law on the first of three readings. They also passed a supplementary set of amendments defining the punishments for participating in extremist groups, distributing Nazi propaganda and displaying Nazi symbols.
The government submitted the bill after a number high-profile anti-Semitic acts in Russia, including a recent incident in Moscow in which a sign that read "Death to Jews" exploded in the face of a woman who tried to remove it from the side of the road.
The legislation would give Russian law enforcement authorities wide discretion to crack down on extremist political groups, by suspending the activity of suspect organizations.
But opponents say the bill's definition of "extremism" is too vaguely defined, and could allow police to outlaw activist organizations like the environmental group Greenpeace or hand out severe punishments to demonstrators who hold unsanctioned protests.
The law drew impassioned debate on the floor of parliament Thursday.
"The spread of extremism is a serious threat to the country's security," said Justice Minister Yuri Chaika. "Today the state does not have everything it needs to fight it."
Communist deputy Viktor Zorkaltsev called the law "antidemocratic" and said it could be used to break up any opposition activity. "It can be applied to anything: protests by teachers, doctors, workers, and miners who demand their salaries and pensions," he said.
Kremlin officials say law enforcement agencies need new legal tools to deal with neo-fascist organizations and skinheads who attack racial and ethnic minorities. Police have long classified such attacks as simple "hooliganism."
The bill must go through two more readings in the Duma and then be signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.