MOSCOW - THE Russian government has submitted to parliament a new bill expanding the definition of treason, a move lawyers worry could be a throwback to the Soviet times when any criticism was punished.

The bill - which was submitted on Friday to the State Duma - expands the definition of treason to not only acting against national security but also against the constitutional order of the country and state integrity.

In the bill, treason is defined as 'a deed aimed against security of the Russia Federation, including her constitutional order, sovereignty, territorial and state integrity.'

Currently, it is merely defined as 'treacherous acts aimed at damaging external security.' The bill, a copy of which was sent to AFP by parliamentary officials, also said that 'rendering financial or material and technical or consultative support to .. a foreign organisation' would also amount to state treason.

'It is a hint for people to sit tight and keep quiet,' said Anna Stavitskaya, a lawyer for Igor Sutyagin, an arms researcher sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2004 on charges of spying for the United States.

Investigators would be able to widely interpret the law at their own discretion, she said.

The Kommersant daily said in its headline: 'Treason to the motherland - the business of everyone.'

Human rights groups have said the Kremlin and the government might be inclined to tighten screws as more Russians are becoming disenchanted with state policies as the crisis eats away at their savings.

The government of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin submitted the amendments on Friday, the same day the State Duma, passed a third and final reading of a bill abolishing jury trials for crimes like terrorism and espionage.

The bill also abolished jury trials for people suspected of treason, hostage-taking, organising mass disturbances and some other serious crimes, in a move human rights groups fear will weaken the judicial system.

Pro-Kremlin law makers had proposed the bill to limit the use of jury trials, which were introduced in the post-Soviet era and have a much higher rate of acquittal than trials presided over by a judge. -- AFP