Posted on 02/15/2006 1:10:00 PM PST by struwwelpeter
On Wednesday a bill before the parliament that would remove detention centers from the FSB passed its first reading. Voting for the bill were 357 members of parliament, while 56 voted against, and 1 abstained. As was reported by a Grani.ru correspondent at the parliament, changes would be made to Article 13 of the law concerning the Federal Security Service, and in Articles 7 & 8 of the law concerning detaining suspects and those accused of committing crimes.
Mikhail Grishankov, first deputy chairman of the parliament's security committee, explained that "the given legislation was introduced to provide additional guaranties of the rights, freedoms, and interests of those who are suspected or accused of committing crimes." The bill was written to take into account the recommendations of the Council of Europe, as well as the President of the Russian Federation's decree of July 12th, 2005: 'Additional guaranties for the protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of persons suspected or accused of committing crimes'.
With the adoption of bill, the FSB's investigative detention centers would be transferred to the executive branch of the Justice Department's criminal administrative system.
Adoption of the law will not take prisons away from the FSB. Workers at Lefortovo, according to some information, are already receiving Justice Ministry identification cards. They will not be losing contact with their home office, however - they will just be counted on the books of a different agency.
The presidential directive and this law (which will undoubtedly pass the parliament), as well as the wishes of the Council of Europe, will be considered fulfilled. In reality, however, the FSB is not losing one iota of control over its detention centers. The security service's investigators will remain in their offices inside the prison, and the prisoners, accordingly, will remain in their 'offices'. There will not be a change of places even out of amusement.
Remember that Lefortovo once upon a time was taken away from the Chekists, and given to the Interior Ministry. This happened in 1994, when all of the Lyubyanka's functions were taken away. In 1997 the secret service received its 'Bastille' back, as well as its own investigative apparatus.
One need not worry about the destiny of Lyubyanka’s jails. The prison will not get away from the FSB.
PING
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