But Popular Power Party leader Nikolai Ryzhkov argued that the legislation would lead Russia "down a very dangerous path, toward fighting dissidence."

In a separate development, a presidential commission to fight political extremism was created last week.

Created by a presidential decree, the commission will enforce a ban on organizations that seek to overthrow the government through violence, to violate Russia's territorial integrity or to incite racial, ethnic or religious hatred.

There are some 50 extremist political groups that may come under the commission's purview, experts say.