A new law takes effect this week to punish any public calls for the violent overthrow of Russia's constitutional authorities.


The law, which has been passed by parliament and was published in Nezavisimaya Gazeta on Tuesday, outlaws "public calls for violent change in the constitutional system or for the seizure of power or massive distribution of materials containing such calls".


The law extends equally to the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.


The National Salvation Front, which in its statements has called for President Boris Yeltsin to resign, is not in violation of this law, according to Igor Bezrukov, deputy chairman of parliament's legislative committee.


"In all their statements, they talk about changing the cabinet and forcing the resignation of the president", said Bezrukov, who is a member of the Democratic Russia movement, which supports Yeltsin and his government.


"But they have made no calls for the violent overthrow of either, and they advocate using constitutional methods".


Bezrukov said that if the front initiated impeachment proceedings against Yeltsin or a vote of no confidence in the cabinet, these methods would be constitutional.


He contrasted the approach of the front with that of Worker's Russia, whose leaders have advocated armed struggle against the government in numerous demonstrations since February.


"Worker's Russia is clearly calling for the bloody overthrow of the government", he said. "You have to differentiate between the two".


Violations of the law, carry a punishment of up to three years imprisonment and a fine of up to 20, 000 rubles.


Yeltsin had returned the law to parliament last summer, but his press office would not comment Tuesday on the president's opinion of the current version of the legislation. An official said only, "If the law went into effect, it must have the president's signature on it".