Russian president sings law to expand ex KGB powers

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday signed into a law a bill expanding the powers of the successor to the Soviet era KGB security service, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday signed into a law a bill expanding the powers of the successor to the Soviet era KGB security service, the Kremlin said in a statement.

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The bill, criticised by rights groups, would allow the Federal Security Service (FSB) to issue official warnings to individuals whose actions are deemed to be creating the conditions for crime.

Rights groups say the bill would essentially put the special service above the law and harks back to Soviet times when the much feared FSB predecessor KGB used warnings to persecute dissidents.

The bill had already been passed by the lower and upper houses of parliament.