Russia's Senate will likely approve repressive new ‘Big Brother’ laws this week

The Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s Parliament, is expected to approve a set of anti-terrorist laws spearheaded by the Duma deputy Irina Yarovaya and approved by the lower house of Parliament last week, said the Senate's speaker, Valentina Matviyenko.

“Based on preliminary information, the laws will be approved. I have no other information,” said Matviyenko at a press conference.

According to the speaker, the Council’s Constitutional Committee has not found that any of the proposed laws are unconstitutional. The most controversial aspects of the legislation were “softened” or eliminated during Duma negotiations last week, she noted.

Though lawmakers did indeed remove many of the most odious amendments at the last minute, the bill still revises dozens of existing laws in ways that could have profound consequences for people living in Russia.

For Yarovaya’s bill to be ratified into law, the Federation Council must approve it and President Vladimir Putin must sign it.