President Boris Yeltsin's June 14 decree on combating crime provides police with powers reformist politicians say violate individuals' rights. Some of the controversial points of the decree: ?Information received though routine search procedures can be used as evidence in court. This replaces a stipulation in Russia's criminal code allowing the admission only of evidence obtained in a search sanctioned by court order. ?Police can detain individuals suspected of involvement in organized crime for up to 30 days without charge or bail. Russia's new constitution says that the limit should be 48 hours, but that the old limit -- up to 10 days -- should be observed until a new law is passed. ?Authorities can investigate the financial affairs of anyone suspected of mafia involvement without a court order. ?Authorities can examine the financial affairs not only of suspects, but of anyone who has lived with a suspect for over five years. ?A Moscow city government ordinance, issued under a stipulation in the decree allowing local authorities to strengthen police powers in crime-ridden areas, empowers police to enter and search dwellings without a court order, in violation of article 25 of the Russian Constitution.
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