I’ve never been able to closely follow Russian politics, lacking the languages and proper appreciation of their history as I do. But one thing I’m fairly sure of: Russia today is a perfect model for the study of when the Thugs are In Charge:

Slander Could Be Deemed Extremist

By Oksana Yablokova and Anatoly Medetsky
Staff Writers
The State Duma will soon vote on a bill that would allow courts to shut down parties and news organizations for slandering government officials or threatening possible mass protests, deputies said Thursday.

The Duma’s leadership decided Thursday to send the bill — which includes amendments to expand the list of punishable crimes under the anti-extremism law — to the president and the Cabinet for a review, Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov said.

It is expected to come up for a first reading by the end of this month.

Opposition politicians called the amendments an effort by a worried government to ensure the ruling class remained in power after upcoming national elections. But Gryzlov said the bill — introduced by 14 deputies representing all the factions in the Duma — would not punish those critical of the authorities.

One amendment, however, would make it possible to mete out tough punishment to National Bolshevik Party members for their theatrical protests. Bolshevik activists chanted “Putin is the executioner of freedom” at a newspaper conference earlier this month — something the amendment would classify as public slander against government officials and equate with extremist activity.

I don’t want to give the Rethuglicans any ideas, but I wonder how long it will be before they start coming up with similar laws. Blogs seem a likely target if they can’t shut us down by killing net neutrality.