Russian police chief seeks to abolish anonymity in the Internet

Russia’s interior minister is demanding the elimination of anonymity on the Internet for residents of former Soviet territories.

“Violators of the law should stop abusing the openness of the Commonwealth of Intependent States’ borders,” Rashid Nurgaliev was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying Thursday.

“They should not hide in the territories where the legislation of the states pursuing them is not valid,” he said at the CIS Interior Ministries meeting in Yalta.

According to Nurgaliyev, law-enforcement agencies with the interested ministries and the business community should monitor online registration constantly to minimize anonymity.

“Russia’s Interior Ministry has acquired enough experience fighting cyber-criminality to provide the necessary help to its CIS colleagues,” Nurgaliev said.