Sir,
As the seven leaders of the world's most industrially developed democracies were packing their suitcases in order to go to St. Petersburg for the G8 meeting, their would-be host, former KGB Lt. Colonel Vladimir Putin, has rushed through the State Duma two new pieces of legislation. First, a new law enabling him to use his secret services as "death squads" to eliminate "extremists" anywhere abroad (including in this country). Second, an amendment to already existing law on fighting "extremism", has provided a much broader definition of that "crime" which, among other things, will include now any "libellous" statements about his administration.

Thus, a stage is set for any critic of Putin's regime here, especially those campainging against Russian genocide in Chechnya, to have an appointment with a poison-tipped umbrella. According to the statement by the RF Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, the black list of potential targets is already composed.

In keeping with the best traditions of the Soviet-era foreign policy, which always strived to make the world an unwitting accomplice of its crimes, this masterpiece is delivered precisely to coincide with the G8 meeting, which will serve to provide a semblance of approval, or at least of acceptance, by the world of this innovation in the "common fight with terrorism".

Needless to say, this is extremely dangerous development. Unless the Western leaders are prepared to share responsibility for murders, like the one recently committed in Qatar by the Russian agents, they should have canceled their meeting in St. Petersburg, or at the very least should protest very loudly against such abuse of the G8 chairmanship.