A link from The New York Times
Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his response to critics: In recent weeks, a Putin critic has been expeled from the Duma, two punk singers have been imprisoned for criticizing Putin, and the Kremlin has banned US government assistance programs. Now, the Duma is mulling a law to criminalize challenges to “constitutional order, sovereignty, and territorial and state integrity” as treason. The question is whether the moves shrink or embolden tens of thousands of Muscovites who have rallied intermittently in the streets since disputed elections last December.