09/18/97 - 1043

Russian Parlament Passes Controversial Bill

Moscow (VNN) - Russian lawmakers approved on Friday a revised bill on religion. The bill was originally vetoed by President Boris Yeltsin. The law is backed by Russia's powerful Orthodox Church and by Yeltsin's communist and nationalist opponents. It must still clear the upper chamber, or Federation Council before coming before Yeltsin again.

Hare Krishna devotees performed kirtan and Christian groups sang hymns before the Duma in Central Moscow in protest of the new law.

Under the revised draft "non-traditional'' groups face strict restriction in their legal rights, missionary work and preaching activities.

"This bill favours those who collaborated with the Lubyanka (headquarters of the former KGB),'' former deputy and rebel Orthodox priest Gleb Yakunin told reporters.

The U.S. Senate had previously threatened to withhold $200 million of aid if it had passed the previous version into law.