MOSCOW, April 28 - RAPSI. A statement by lawyer Dagir Khasavov that Russia should adopt Sharia law may result in amendments to the lawyers' Code of Conduct, said Yuri Pilipenko, Vice Chairman of the Federal Bar Association.

Khasavov, an aide to an upper house committee chairman, said in an interview with the REN TV channel that Russia's Muslims will establish their own rules on their territory, and attempts to resist them will lead to bloodshed.

After an appraisal of Khasavov's statements, the Russian Institute of Cultural Studies has concluded that they "are intended to incite hatred and animosity, as well as to humiliate a person or a group of people on the basis of their attitude toward a religion - Islam - and may be considered calls to carry out extremist activities," said Marina Gridneva, spokesperson for the Russian Prosecutor General's office.

According to Pilipenko, under current regulations an attorney may be disciplined and consequently disbarred for professional misconduct. However, he does not rule out that the Khasavov incident may prompt changes in the Code of Conduct.

"I think that one of the key duties of a lawyer is to observe universal moral principles," said Pilipenko, adding that he was ready to initiate and draft the relevant amendments.

The decision on the amendments to the Code may be made at the lawyer's congress, due to be held in a year's time.

Meanwhile, Russian prosecutors have identified signs of extremism in the statements by the Muslim lawyer. His interview could be considered propaganda promoting superiority of people on the basis of their religious beliefs, Gridneva added.

Alexander Ordzhonikidze, head of the REN-TV channel, which aired the broadcast, has been given a formal warning.

The Prosecutor General's Office also advised the Justice Ministry that the statements may constitute a breach of advocacy law and the code of conduct. Khasavov could be forced to forfeit his lawyers license because of the violations.

The Russian legal system, established by the constitution and federal laws, allows for the administration of justice only by constitutional, civil, criminal, administrative, arbitration and judicial bodies, not religious courts.

Kasanov is reported to have left Russia for Europe.