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)
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Source: Voice of America
.