DATE=2/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245012
TITLE=RUSSIA EXTREMISM (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIAN SECURITY OFFICIALS PLEDGED TUESDAY TO CRACK DOWN
ON A GROWING NUMBER OF NEO-NAZI AND ANTI-SEMITIC DEMONSTRATIONS.
BUT AS V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, A PROPOSED LAW TO
COMBAT POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM IS MEETING OPPOSITION.
TEXT: SECURITY OFFICIALS CALLED ON RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT TO
SWIFTLY ADOPT A LAW TO LIMIT ACTIVITIES OF ULTRA-NATIONALIST AND
FASCIST GROUPS IN RUSSIA.
TUESDAY'S MEETING OF THE "PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL TO
COUNTERACT EXTREMISM" FOLLOWS A MARCH LAST SUNDAY IN MOSCOW BY
THE ULTRA-NATIONALIST RUSSIAN NATIONAL UNITY GROUP, OR R-N-E.
THE R-N-E IS A SEMI-MILITARY ORGANIZATION THAT WANTS AN ETHNIC
RUSSIAN DICTATOR IN POWER IN MOSCOW. ITS MEMBERS WEAR BLACK
UNIFORMS WITH SWASTIKA-STYLE EMBLEMS.
EXTREMIST GROUPS HAVE EXISTED IN RUSSIA FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT
HAVE BEEN MORE VISIBLE SINCE THE CRASH OF RUSSIA'S ECONOMY LAST
AUGUST.
KREMLIN AIDE OLEG SYSUYEV TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT WHAT HE CALLS
PROVOCATIVE GROUPS MUST BE STOPPED BEFORE THEY GAIN MOMENTUM.
/// SYSUYEV ACT IN RUSSIAN, FADE UNDER ///
MR. SYSUYEV SAYS IN THIS ELECTION YEAR, IT IS IMPORTANT TO PUT IN
THEIR PLACE THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION AND PERSONIFY
EXTREMISM.
// OPT // RUSSIAN INTERIOR MINISTER SERGEY STEPASHIN CONDEMNED
MOSCOW POLICE FOR NOT HALTING SUNDAY'S MARCH BY THE R-N-E.
/// STEPASHIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, FADE UNDER ///
MR. STEPASHIN SAYS ANY OFFICIAL WHO FAILS TO PREVENT SUCH EVENTS
WILL BE FIRED. HE SAYS THESE GROUPS WILL NOT STRUT AROUND
MOSCOW IN THE FUTURE. // END OPT //
THE PRESIDENTIAL PANEL ALSO IS TRYING TO PASS LEGISLATION TO
PROHIBIT THE DISSEMINATION OF NEO-NAZI SYMBOLS AND LITERATURE. A
TOP KREMLIN AIDE SAYS IF PARLIAMENT REFUSES TO ENDORSE PROPOSED
ANTI-EXTREMIST LAWS, PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN WILL PASS THEM BY
DECREE.
COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER GENNADY ZUGANOV TOLD REPORTERS TUESDAY IT
IS PRESIDENT YELTSIN WHO IS THE EXTREMIST. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH/WTW
02-Feb-99 2:44 PM EST (1944 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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