Putin signs law squeezing terrorists and their families

MOSCOW, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill into law Sunday requiring the families of terrorists to pay for any damage their relatives might cause.

The law, passed in October, would specifically look at the possibility that real estate or other family assets were acquired illegally by a family member involved in terrorist activities.

The law is the latest effort by Moscow to root out the long-running insurgency in the North Caucuses, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency said.

The legislation signed Sunday boosts the penalty for taking part in so-called terrorist training at insurgent camps to 10 years in prison. Anyone convicted of organizing a terrorist network can now get 20 years in prison.