Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with members of the Presidential Human Rights Council in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Yuri Kochetkov, Pool) (Associated Press) 
 
 A controversial new law widely expanding the definition of treason has come into effect in Russia on Wednesday despite President Vladimir Putin's promise to review it. 
 
 The new law widens the interpretation of treason to include activities such as financial or consultative assistance to a foreign state, an international or a foreign organization. 
 
 Rights activists have warned the new law is so vague that it would allow the government to brand any dissenter a traitor. They described it as part of a widening crackdown on the opposition after Putin's inauguration for a third presidential term. 
 
 While the previous law describes high treason as espionage or other assistance to a foreign state damaging Russia's external security, the new legislation expands the definition by dropping the word "external." It keeps the punishment of up to 20 years in prison used by the prevision law. 
 
 The law, drafted by the Federal Security Service, the main KGB successor agency known under its Russian acronym FSB, also introduced a punishment for up to eight years for simply getting hold of state secrets even if they aren't passed to foreign hands. 
 
 The FSB explained in a statement carried by the ITAR-Tass news agency that the new clause is intended to help better protect confidential information. 
 
 Putin, a KGB veteran, has clamped down on his critics following a series of major street protests against his rule with a series of repressive bills and arrests and searches of opposition activists 
 
 He promised Monday to have another look at a treason bill to avoid a broad interpretation of treason, but it became law despite his statement. 

 MOSCOW | 
 
 MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law broadening the definition of treason which opponents say could be used to smother dissent and put almost anyone who has contact with foreigners at risk. 
 
 The law allows Russians representing international organizations to be charged with treason, as well as those working for foreign intelligence. It took effect on Wednesday when it was published in the official gazette, despite a promise by Putin on Monday that he would review it. 
 
 Political opponents and rights activists say the legislation is the latest in a series of laws intended to crack down on the opposition and reduce foreign influence since he returned to the Kremlin in May for a six-year third term. 
 
 "Citizens recruited by international organizations acting against the country's interests will also be considered traitors", the official gazette, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, said in a commentary on its website. 
 
 The maximum sentence for high treason remains 20 years. 
 
 At a meeting of his human rights council on Monday, Putin listened to a retired Constitutional Court judge's concerns about the legislation, which she said did not require authorities to prove a suspect damaged state security. 
 
 Putin indicated at the meeting that he would move cautiously and that the legislation had been scrutinized closely as it passed through parliament. But he also said "nonetheless, I am ready to return to this again, to look more attentively." 
 
 Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the president had signed the legislation on Tuesday although the Kremlin had not made a formal announcement. 
 
 Russian officials have said the law is needed to help prevent foreign governments using organizations in Russia to gather state secrets. 
 
 (Reporting by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya, Writing by Steve Gutterman, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
– An ever-benevolent Vladimir Putin listened to fears surrounding a vaguely worded treason bill on Monday, ultimately promising to proceed with caution and "return to this again, to look more attentively." The next day, he just signed it, reports Reuters. The ruling expands the definition of treason to include giving financial or consultative support to foreign countries or groups, reports the AP. Rights activists fear the law, which carries a possible 20-year prison sentence, could brand even mild dissenters as traitors. Another tough aspect of it: an 8-year prison sentence for accessing state secrets—even if they're not passed to foreign hands.