“The head of state has taken a careful approach toward opinions that the media and society on the whole have expressed on this matter,” Vladislav Surkov, the first deputy presidential chief of staff commented the event.
“Possibly there is a danger that the concepts of state secrets, high treason, and spying could be construed too broadly,” he said. “The bill will be adjusted.”
Putin has not publicly commented on the bill.
Political commentators are speculating whether Medvedev’s choice to change the bill indicates a growing rift between Medvedev and Putin or simply means that authorities have decided to back off on a bill that prompted comparisons with the era of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.
Since Medvedev’s inauguration last May, observers have been watching closely for signs of a break with the policies of Putin, a longtime KGB officer who rolled back democratic achievements and tightened Kremlin control during his eight-year presidency.
Human rights community welcomed the President`s initiative. Lev Ponomaryov, the leader of the Moscow-based group For Human Rights, said that, as far as he remembers, “this is the first time in about a decade that the Kremlin has so publicly responded to the opinions of critics.”
“This is a landmark decision,” he said. “We welcome this action and hope that it will not be the last time.”
