Russian President Boris Yeltsin has rejected controversial legislation passed by the parliament governing religious communities because some of its provisions infringed on basic human rights. "This was a very difficult decision because the law was supported by 370 deputies in the State Duma, the Russian Orthodox Church and 10 other major religions in Russia," Yeltsin said in a message carried on July 22 by Itar-Tass. "However, many provisions of the law infringe on civil and individual constitutional rights and liberties, create inequalities between faiths and are inconsistent with Russia's international obligations."