NOVO-OGARYOVO, November 14 (Itar-Tass) — The Kremlin intends to monitor the implementation of the amendments to the Criminal Code on high treason and espionage, and is ready to make adjustments, if need be, the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, said in comments on the amendments to the penal code the head of state signed on Tuesday.
He reminded that at a meeting between the president and members of the presidential council for human rights on Monday, the parties considered the provisions of this law. "Indeed, the president expressed his readiness to mostly attentively look at this law," Peskov said.
"The fact of signing the amendments shows the president's consent to endorse this act," the spokesman said, noting at the same time that Vladimir Putin’s statement made during the meeting of the Council unequivocally "shows his readiness to make the necessary adjustments, if some problems or aspects restrict the rights or freedom of citizens will be identified in the implementation of the law that.”
A new edition of the penal code articles on espionage and high treason has come into force in Russia. The amendments to the Criminal Code signed by the president into law were published by the Rossiiskaya Gazeta on Wednesday.
The amendments spell out the notion of high treason; it is not only the activity in the interests of foreign intelligence, but also that of international organizations if they directly engage in gathering intelligence. The law expands the notions of three articles of the criminal code on high treason, espionage and divulging the state secret.
Also, the penal code has a new article on illegally obtaining confidential information which is punished by up to four years in prison if the culprit obtained access to the state secret through theft, fraud, blackmail or any other illegal method. It covers the attempts to illegally access secret information without a possible purpose of espionage or high treason.