More ominously, in a move reminiscent of Stalin, Putin has initiated a new anti-extremism law, according to which anyone can be accused of terrorism, espionage, being a foreign agent, or disseminating hatred. The law has proven to be a powerful tool in stifling dissent, which can include mass protests against election fraud, journalists working to expose corruption, or a librarian in Siberia fulfilling a patron’s request for a banned book.
更加凶险的预兆是，普京推出了新反极端主义法，根据该法，任何人都可以以恐怖主义、间谍、身为外国特工或传播仇恨等罪名被捕，这让人想起了斯大林时代。该法已被证明是清除异端的有力工具，“异端”可以包括反对选举欺诈的游行群众、揭露腐败的记者，或是满足来客阅览禁书要求的西伯利亚图书管理员。