Bill to Bar Foreigners Who Show Disrespect

[CHIMO]

Foreigners might want to watch what they say about President Vladimir Putin or how they treat the Russian flag if parliament approves new rules about who is welcome in the country.

The legislation, which is expected to come up for the first of three readings in the State Duma early next year, would allow authorities to deny a visa to any foreigner who shows disrespect toward Russia.

Foreigners could be denied entry if they "commit actions of a clearly disrespectful nature toward the Russian Federation or the federal organs of the government of the Russian Federation," says a draft of the amendment to the law "On Exit From the Russian Federation and Entry Into the Russian Federation."

"This is a general trait of post-Soviet legislation. It allows authorities to manipulate the situation," Pribylovsky said. "If they think it is to their benefit, they can let in a spy and say the law doesn't apply to him. Likewise, they can use the law to keep out a foreign journalist who has criticized the Kremlin."

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/12/09/002.html

[mmonk]

1. Don't let our law makers find out

I don't want them to get any more ideas.

[CHIMO]

3. Me Thinks

That they already have. A while ago all foreign reporters had to resubmit their papers to report from the US by applying from their own country. They could not do it while they were in the US.
Guess Putin is learnin from Bush & Co.

[Straight Shooter]

2. Well, so much for pee-writing "Putin" in the snow

bush is taking notes, no doubt

[PROGRESSIVE1]

4. Bushler will try this next.

[fshrink]

8. Lol. I wonder if Busholini wouldn't be better... nt

[norml]

10. How about Emperor Bushido?

The way of the wannabe warrior.

[baldguy]

5. "Gee, Puti-toot gets all the breaks!"

"I wish I could lock up people who don't kiss my butt!"

[SaintLouisBlues]

6. I assumed it was the US from the headline

Sad commentary

[Voltaire99]

7. Me, too. But in essence, the US already does this.

Under Reagan it was hard for foreign critics of US policy (whether activists, writers, artists, performers) to enter the country; it's become harder still under the Bushistas.

[steely]

9. Me three - I already had a snarky reply ready to go.

shows you what things have come to.