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Terror Crimes in Russia Rise 73 Percent in 2016

The number of terror crimes recorded in Russia has soared by 73 percent since the start of the year, a report by First Deputy Prosecutor General Alexander Buksman revealed Wednesday.

The number of crimes classed as "extremist" or "terrorist" in nature reached 830 and 1313 respectively.

"This dynamics reflects a growing threat," Buksman said, maintaining that further growth in terror-linked crimes was being slowed by preventive measures carried out by the Russian authorities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a package of repressive new anti-terror legislation last month, sparking controversy across Russia. This laws increase the government's powers of surveillance by obliging communication companies to store their users' data and decode it at the request of the Russian Security Services (FSB).

Russian opposition activist Leonid Volkov is to hold a rally against the new legislation on Aug. 9 in the capital's Sokolniki Park after permission was given to rally organizers on their second application.

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