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Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law on Friday a bill that will dramatically increase fines for people who take part in protests that violate public order rules, just days ahead of the next planned rally against his 12-year rule. Putin told a meeting of top judges in his native St. Petersburg that he decided to sign the bill despite objections from his own human rights adviser, Mikhail Fedotov, who asked the president to veto it. Participants in protests where public order is violated could now face fines of 300,000 roubles ($9,100)—more than the average annual salary and up from...

Russia’s State Duma, dominated by the party loyal to President Vladimir Putin, passed a controversial bill late Tuesday providing for harsh fines for unsanctioned political protests, following an unusual mini-filibuster by opposition members of the traditionally compliant lower house of parliament. The move came two days before U.S. lawmakers consider a bill that would sanction Russian officials responsible for violations against human rights advocates and anti-corruption activists. Named for Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky, who died in custody in 2009, the bipartisan legislation would set up a public list of rights violators who would be denied U.S. visas or have their...

China's parliament unveiled legislation on Thursday solidifying police powers to hold dissidents in secret criminal detention, prompting an outcry from artist Ai Weiwei and rights advocates caught in a surge of clandestine detentions last year. Others said, however, the ruling Communist Party had retreated from the most draconian part of new rules for another kind of secretive detention, called "residential surveillance", which were proposed last year. Police powers to hold suspects facing subversion and other state security charges are set out in revisions to China's Criminal Procedure Law sent to the annual parliament, the National People's Congress, for approval. "Detainees'...

Russia's opposition said on Tuesday they feared Vladimir Putin had decided to use force to smother their protests after riot police detained hundreds of demonstrators challenging his presidential election victory. After three months of peaceful anti-Putin protests, police hauled away more than 500 people, including opposition leaders, who attended unsanctioned protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg on Monday or refused to leave after a rally that was permitted. The police intervention sent a clear signal that Putin is losing patience with opponents demanding more democracy, openness and political reforms, and will crack down if they step out of line. "Fear...