Human rights activists and liberal lawmakers are up in arms over proposed legislation giving the state greater power to curtail civil liberties during anti-terrorism operations, a term that includes the ongoing fight against militants in Chechnya. Two bills put forward by deputies from the State Duma’s pro-Kremlin majority, to be considered this month, call for changes to existing laws on fighting terrorism and on emergency situations. But they have come up against criticism from the Supreme Court and parliament’s upper chamber. The most controversial amendment allows the passage of federal laws “limiting certain civil rights and freedoms in the zone of a counterterrorism operation” without introducing a state of emergency. Full Story