26/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton concerned at law on treason. On Thursday 25 October, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said that she was concerned about the law on treason adopted two days previously by the Russian Duma - a law which expands the scope for prosecution and reduces the burden of proof for charges of treason and espionage. This law also potentially penalises contacts with foreign nationals (with up to 20 years in prison). Ashton's spokesperson said in a press release that the EU was going to follow the law's implementation closely. “The abstract definition of treason contained in the law will make it difficult to apply in a fair manner”, he said. Recalling that the adoption of this law follows a number of legislative and judicial developments in Russia over the last few months, the spokesperson said that “taken together, these developments would limit the space for civil society development and increase the scope for intimidation”. (CG/transl.fl)