Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 30.12.2004

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 691 of November 27, 2004 on the Federal Agency of State Property Management

The Federal Agency of State Property Management is an authorised federal body of executive power in charge of the privatisation and the functions of the proprietor in the sphere of federal property management, including the land relations, as well as the functions of rendering of state services and law enforcement in the sphere of property and land relations. The Federal Agency of State Property Management shall also license assessment activities and control execution of the license requirements and terms, and in individual cases, implement the authority of the state fiscal and control body, as well as the authority of the owner of the debtor property - federal state unitary enterprise - in bankruptcy proceedings.

The Federal Agency of State Property Management is supervised by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 703 of November 2, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Documents for the Granting of Political Asylum by the Russian Federation

Endorses the forms of the following documents: request for the political asylum in the Russian Federation, certificate of the legality of stay of the foreign citizen or stateless person on the territory of the Russian Federation in view of consideration of such request, certificate of the granting of political asylum to the foreign citizen or stateless person by the Russian Federation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on November 23, 2004. Reg. No. 6147.

Procedure of Selection of the Agent Banks on the Contest Basis (Endorsed by the Decision of the Board of Directors of the State Corporation "Deposit Insurance Agency" of September 17, 2004 (Protocol 6))

Defines the procedure of selection of the agent banks on the contest basis to be used by the Deposit Insurance Agency to accept applications from depositors for reimbursement of deposits, as well as to pay out insurance reimbursement to bank depositors whenever an insurance case occurs.

The procedure of contest selection includes a preliminary (open) selection of banks for participation in the contests of selection of the agent banks and the contest itself. The preliminary selection is carried out on the permanent basis, requests for participation in the preliminary selection do not have time limits. Report of the beginning of the preliminary selection is published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta and may be published additionally in the printed organs of the subjects of the Russian Federation and placed on the Agency official internet site. The payment for the participation in the contest selection and the contest documentation is not collected. The contest is arranged at the decision of the Agency management board in the three following cases: if an insurance case occurs, when paying out insurance reimbursement, if the previous contest fails.

Operative Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 137-T of November 26, 2004 on the Registration of Resources of the Housing Subsidy Provided to Citizens in the Framework of Subprogram "State Housing Certificates" for the Years 2004-2010 Forming Part of the Tied Federal Program "Housing" for the Years 2002-2010

Registration of the resources of the housing subsidies provided to citizens is arranged by the credit organisations participating in the implementation of the mentioned subprogram on the personal account opened to each holder of the state housing certificate on the Balance Account 40817 "Natural Persons". The state housing certificates accepted from their holders are registered by the credit organisation on the Off-Balance Account 91202 "Various Values and Documents".

Federal Law No. 145-FZ of December 1, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Audit Chamber of the Russian Federation

The Chairman of the Audit Chamber and his Deputy are assigned to their positions by the State Duma at the presentation of the President of the Russian Federation. The Law lists the subjects empowered with the right to nominate the candidates for the mentioned positions. The President of the Russian Federation shall suggest the candidates no later than three months before the expiry of the period of authority of the actual Chairman of the Audit Chamber or his Deputy. In case of their early dismissal from the position, the President shall suggest candidates for these positions within two weeks from dismissal. If the suggested candidates are disclaimed, the President of the Russian Federation shall nominate new candidates within two weeks. In this case, the President of the Russian Federation may suggest for consideration to the State Duma the same candidates or nominate other ones.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 142-FZ of November 30, 2004 on the Amendment to the Federal Law on the Justices of the Peace in the Russian Federation

In case of revocation or suspension of the powers of the justice of the peace, as well as in case of his temporary absence (illness, leave and other justifiable reasons), execution of his duties is vested in the justice of the peace of another court district of the same region at the decision of the chairman of the appropriate regional court. If there is only one justice of the peace in the given region, execution of his duties at the decision of the chairman of the higher court or his deputy may be vested in the justice of the peace of the nearest region.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1487 of December 1, 2004 on the Federal Agency for Construction and the Housing and Communal Sector

The Federal Agency for Construction and the Housing and Communal Sector is handed over from the Ministry of the Industry and Power Supplies of Russia to the Ministry of Regional Policy of Russia.

Appropriate changes are introduced in the structure of the federal bodies of executive power.

The Decree is entered into force from the day of its signing.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 04-941/pz-i of November 15, 2004 on the Amendments to the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 04-300/pz of August 12, 2004 on the Appellate Commission for the Qualification Examinations of the Federal Service for Financial Markets

Specifies that the Appellate Commission shall include beside its Chairman and Secretary also the Deputy Chairman of the Appellate Commission. The Deputy Chairman shall be the deputy chief of the structural division of the Federal Service in charge of the certification of the specialists of the market of securities of the Federal Service. In the absence of the Chairman, his Deputy endorses the agenda of the session of the Appellate Commission and sends it to the Secretary.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 04-940/pz-i of November 15, 2004 on the Amendments to the Interim Regulation on the Certification Commission for the Qualification Examinations of the Federal Service for Financial Markets Endorsed by the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 04-301 of August 12, 2004

Specifies that the Chairman of the Certification Commission shall sign qualification certificates (earlier, they were signed by his Deputy).

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 04-674/pz of October 11, 2004 on the Public Disclosing of Information at the Securities Market

To provide for the continuity of public disclosing of information at the securities market preserves until April 1, 2005 specified by the Federal Commission for Securities Market of Russia terms and procedure of public disclosing of information at the securities market by authorised organisations.

Federal Law No. 144-FZ of November 30, 2004 on the Amendment to Article 10 of the Federal Law on the Justices of the Peace in the Russian Federation

Specifies that reimbursement of expenses covered from the federal budget in cases processed by the justices of the peace is carried out through the bodies of the Judicial Department of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 709 of December 1, 2004 on the Non-Application of the Rate of the Import Customs Duty for Tin Ores and Concentrates

The rate of the import customs duty in the amount of 5% of the customs cost endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 830 of November 30, 2001 does not apply to tin ores and concentrates (code according to the Foreign-Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 2609 00 000 0).

The Decision is entered into force one months after the day of its official publication for 9 months.

Order of the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement No. 101 of September 24, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Organisation of Issue of Decisions by the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement for Trans-Border Shipment of Ozone Destructing Substances and Products Containing Them

Decisions permitting to import and export from the Russian Federation ozone destructing substances and products containing them are issued by the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement. The Order lists the documents submitted by the applicant to obtain the decision. The period of examination of the submitted documents must not be greater than 30 days from the day of registration of the application for the given decision with all necessary documents.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 2, 2004. Reg. No. 6162.

Order of the Federal Service of Financial Markets, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation No. 04-601/pz-n/293/507/149 of November 2, 2004 on the Commission for Commodity Exchanges of the Federal Service of Financial Markets

The Commission is created to control the activities of commodity exchanges, commodity sections of currency and stock exchanges, as well as exchange intermediaries and exchange brokers committing futures and option transactions in exchange trade.

The Commission shall issue the licenses for organisation of exchange trade, license or control the licensing of exchange intermediaries, exchange brokers, process the appeals of participants of exchange trade against the abuse and violation of the legislation in exchange trade.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 21, 2004. Reg. No. 6158.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 96n of November 1, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Uniform Imputed Income Tax for Individual Types of Activities and the Instruction on the Procedure of Its Application

Endorses the form of the tax declaration for the uniform imputed income tax for individual types of activities (KND Form 1152016) and its filling Instruction.

The declaration is submitted by the taxpayers as a result of the tax period no later than the 20th of the first month of the following tax period.

The Order applies beginning with the estimates for the IV quarter of 2004.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on November 30, 2004. Reg. No. 6153.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 97n of November 1, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Gambling Tax and the Instruction on the Procedure of Its Application

Endorses the form of the tax declaration for the gambling tax (KND Form 1152011) and its filling Instruction.

The Order applies beginning with the estimates for the November of 2004.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on November 30, 2004. Reg. No. 6152.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1518-U of November 19, 2004 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 205-P of December 5, 2002 on the Rules of Accounting Work in Credit Organisations Located on the Territory of the Russian Federation

The Chart of Accounts of credit organisations is extended to include the new Active Account 47901 "Assets Handed over in Trust Control" and the Passive Account 47902 "Reserves for Possible Losses". The accounts are intended for the recording by the credit organisation having engaged in the management of assets handed over in trust control, as well as the reserves for possible losses created for these assets.

The handing over of assets is recorded by the credit organisation having engaged in the management on the debit of the account used to register the assets handed over in trust control and on the credit of accounts used to register appropriate assets at the cost they were registered at on the date of entry into force of the contract of trust control. A confirmation of the reception of the property handed over in trust control for the credit organisations having engaged in the management is the notification of the entry of the property in the records from the trust control manager or the initial registration document with the mark "Trust Control" (copy of the way-bill, act of acceptance etc.).

The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on November 30, 2004. Reg. No. 6150.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 257 of November 22, 2004 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Public Health of Russia No. 328 of August 23, 1999 on the Rational Assignment of Medicines, Rules of Issue of Prescriptions for Them and the Procedure of Sale by Apothecary Institutions (Organisations)

The blank forms of prescriptions shall include Registration Form 148-1/u-04(l) and its filling Instruction. The Instruction on the procedure of storage of the blank forms of prescriptions is extended to include Form 305/u-1 "Logbook of Blank Prescription Forms 148-1/u-04(l) in the Medical Treatment and Prevention Institutions".

The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on November 30, 2004. Reg. No. 6148.

Federal Law No. 157-FZ of December 2, 2004 on the Amendment to Article 28 of the Federal Law on the Obligatory Pension Insurance in the Russian Federation

Article 28 "Procedure and Time Limits of Payment of Insurance Contributions in the Form of Fixed Payment" is extended to include the provision stating that the mentioned contributions are paid no later than December 31 of the current year according to the procedure specified by the Government of the Russian Federation.

Federal Law No. 156-FZ of December 2, 2004 on the Amendment to Article 1174 of Part 3 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation

The amount of monetary resources owned by the testate and handed out by the bank from the account of the deceased to pay for his funeral under Article 1174 "Reimbursement of Expenses Caused by the Death of the Testate and Expenses for the Protection of the Heritage and Its Management" is increased from 100 to 200 minimum amounts of labour remuneration.

Federal Law No. 155-FZ of December 2, 2004 on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation to Implement the Rights of Citizens for the Accumulated Part of the Labour Pension

Refines the functions of such participants of financial markets as specialised depositaries and non-state pension funds being the subjects and participants of relations in the generation and investing of resources of accumulated pensions. Thus, the services of the specialised depositary in any moment of time may be rendered to the fund by only one legal entity possessing appropriate licenses.

Federal Law No. 154-FZ of December 2, 2004 on the Amendments to Article 326 of the Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation

The changes permit the chairman of the court session in the presence of the secretary or assistant to actively influence the building of the preliminary list of the jury avoiding to include in it the persons who may not act as the jury members for reasons envisaged in the legislation.

The presiding judge may release the jury members to their oral or written application who are older than 60 years of age, women with children up to three years of age, persons thinking it impossible for them to participate in the implementation of the justice because of religious convictions, persons if their diversion from service duties may inflict significant damage to public or state interests, other persons who have justifiable reasons to avoid participation in the court session.

Federal Law No. 153-FZ of December 2, 2004 on the Amendment to Article 68 of the Federal Law on Joint-Stock Companies

Member of the board of directors (supervising board) of the company having failed to participate in the vote or having voted against the decision adopted by the board of directors (supervising board) of the company in violation of the established procedure may appeal against the mentioned decision in court if this decision is in violation of his rights and legal interests. Such application may be submitted to the court within one month from the day when the member of the board of directors (supervising board) of the company learnt or was to learn of the adopted decision.

Federal Law No. 152-FZ of December 1, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Obligatory Social Insurance against Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases

Specified in the law insurance tariff rates are differentiated by the classes of occupational risk rather than groups of industries (subindustries). The class of occupational risk, in turn, is defined according to the types of economic activities of insurants. The given amendments correspond to the replacement from January 1, 2003 of the All-Union Classifier of the Sectors of the National Economy (OKONH) with the All-Russia Classifier of the Types of Economic Activities (OKVED).

Federal Law No. 151-FZ of December 1, 2004 on the Amendments to the Fundamentals of the Legislation of the Russian Federation on the Protection of Health of Citizens

The amendments to Articles 24, 31, 32, 33, 43 and 61 of the Fundamentals of the Legislation specifies the norms permitting to render obligatory narcological aid to the underaged - addicts up to 16 years of age and other up to 15 years of age without their consent, however, with consent or at the request of their parents or legal representatives. The raising of the age from 15 to 16 will permit to render necessary medical aid to the underaged who did not fall under obligatory treatment proceeding from the earlier available provisions.

Federal Law No. 150-FZ of December 1, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Fundamentals of the System of Prevention of Unattended and Delinquent Behaviour of the Underaged

The terms "parents" and "legal representatives" used in the Law are being brought in compliance with the norms of the Family Code of the Russian Federation, Paragraph 2 of Item 1 of Article 64 of which states that the parents are being legal representatives of their children. The earlier available wording "parents or legal representatives" permitted to interpret the term "legal representatives" in such a way that legal representatives did not include parents.

Federal Law No. 149-FZ of December 1, 2004 on the Amendments to Articles 24 and 51 of the Federal Law on the Military Duty and the Military Service

The amendments eliminate ambiguity of interpretation of individual norms of Articles 24 ("Deferment from the Draft to the Military Service") and 51 ("Grounds for Dismissal from the Military Service") pertaining to the term "pension age of the elderly". Since the present-day pension legislation does not have the mentioned term, it is replaced with the word combination "citizens of elderly age (women older than 55, men older than 60)".

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Federal Law No. 148-FZ of December 1, 2004 on the Amendments to Articles 3 and 6 of the Federal Law on Tobacco Smoking Restrictions

Retail sale of tobacco items is prohibited not only on the territories of and inside the educational institutions, but also within 100 meters from the boundaries of their territories.

The Federal Law is entered into force 180 days after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 147-FZ of December 1, 2004 on the Amendment to Article 22.1 of the Federal Law on the Service in the Customs Bodies of the Russian Federation

Specifies that after termination of the authority of the employees of the customs bodies elected (assigned) to the legislative (representative) or executive bodies of state power or the bodies of local government, they regain the earlier occupied position. If the earlier occupied position is not available, the mentioned employees may get at their desire a position of equal status at the previous place of service or another place of service rather than any other position.

Federal Law No. 146-FZ of December 1, 2004 on the Amendment to Article 54 of the Federal Law on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances

Drug addicts shall get narcological aid to their request or with their consent, with the underage addicts up to 16 years of age (earlier, 15 years of age) being provided with narcological aid without their consent, however, at the request or with consent of their parents or legal representatives, except for the cases envisaged in the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Federal Law No. 143-FZ of November 30, 2004 on the Amendments to Articles 5, 6 and 14 of the Federal Law on the Judicial Department of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation

The Judicial Department and its bodies shall finance expenses in the cases processed by the courts and justices of the peace due for reimbursement from the federal budget.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 715 of December 1, 2004 on the Endorsement of the List of Diseases of Social Significance and the List of Diseases Hazardous to the Population

The socially significant diseases include: tuberculosis, infections transmitted through genitals, B and C hepatitis, AIDS, malignant tumours, diabetes mellitus, psychic and behavioural disturbances, high blood pressure diseases.

Diseases hazardous to the population include: AIDS, viral fevers, fevers transmitted by arthropods and viral haemorrhagic fevers, helminthoses, B and C hepatitis, diphtheria, infections transmitted through genitals, leprosy, malaria, pediculosis, acariasis and other infections, equinia and pseudocholera, anthrax, tuberculosis, cholera and plague.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 712 of December 1, 2004 on the Benefits to Individual Categories of Visitors of the Federal State Organisations of Culture

From January 1, 2005 organisations of culture are recommended to institute benefits for children of pre-school age, students, invalids, draft servicemen when they visit paid events arranged by organisations of culture. The benefits are introduced by the order of the head of the organisation of culture defining the types and amounts of benefits, as well as the terms and time of their granting, including the list of the documents permitting to enjoy the benefits. Information on the procedure of visiting of paid measures on beneficial terms is placed in the areas of the buildings of the organisations of culture available for visitors and in mass media.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 705 of December 1, 2004 on the Method of Distribution of Subventions from the Federal Fund of Compensations among the Subjects of the Russian Federation for the Year 2005

Defines the rules of distribution of subventions from the Federal Fund of Compensations among the subjects of the Russian Federation for the year 2005. Distribution is arranged to provide for the financing of expenses to grant benefits for the payment for the housing and communal services to individual categories of citizens, to provide for the state registration of the acts of civil status and to implement the Law of the Russian Federation on the donorship of blood and its components.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 739 of December 3, 2004 on the Authority of the Federal Bodies of Executive Power in Implementation of the Proprietary Rights for the Property of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise

Lists the authority of the federal bodes of executive power pertaining to federal state unitary enterprises that must be preserved in the federal property or included in the forecast of privatisation of the federal property if the stocks of the joint-stock companies created by their conversion are expected to be transferred to the registered capital of other joint-stock companies or be preserved in the federal property. Also lists the authority of the Federal Agency for Federal Property Management pertaining to the federal state unitary enterprises.

Decision on the creation, reorganisation in the from of separation, isolation of the federal state unitary enterprises on the basis of economic management and their conversion into the federal state institutions, as well as on the changing of the type of the mentioned enterprises for the federal government enterprises is taken by the Government of the Russian Federation. Reorganisation of the federal state unitary enterprises on the basis of economic management in the form of a merger and incorporation, as well as their liquidation, is implemented at the decision of the Federal Agency for Federal Property Management on the basis of the proposal of the federal body of executive power supervising the appropriate enterprise.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 738 of December 3, 2004 on the Management of the Federally Owned Stocks of Open-Type Joint-Stock Companies and the Use of the Special Right of Participation of the Russian Federation in the Management of the Open-Type Joint-Stock Companies ("Golden Stock")

The rights of the stock-holder of the open-type joint-stock companies, where the stocks are owned by the Russian Federation, on behalf of the Russian Federation are implemented by the Federal Agency for Federal Property Management. The Decision defines the rules of expressing of the will of the stock-holder - Russian Federation, procedure of holding of the general meeting of stock holders, election of the board of directors, implementation of the interests of the Russian Federation in the board of directors. Provides the procedure of expressing of the position of the stock-holder - the Russian Federation - in the joint-stock companies forming the special list.

The Decision specifies the particulars of work of the audit commission of the joint-stock company where the Decision was taken to use the special right of participation of the Russian Federation in its management ("golden stock").

Federally owned stocks of joint-stock companies handed over for sale to the Russian Fund of Federal Property must be handed over to the Federal Agency for Federal Property Management within one month from the day of introduction of appropriate changes in the charter of the Russian Fund of Federal Property, except for the stocks that must be handed over to the buyers under the concluded sale and purchase contracts.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 725 of December 2, 2004 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Palm Oil

Refines individual subitems of the Foreign-Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation pertaining to palm oil and endorses the new rates of the import customs duties for 9 months. The rate of the import customs duty for palm oil in boxes, kegs and cans with the net weight of 200 kg or less amounts to 15% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.12 per kg; for other items - 5% of the customs cost. Earlier, the rate of the import customs duty for palm oil and fractions thereof, whether or not refined, without changing the chemical composition in all cases amounted to 5% of the customs cost.

The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 713 of December 1, 2004 on the Procedure of Rendering Assistance to Persons Having Received the Certificate of Registration of Their Request to Recognise Them As Unwilling Migration and to Provide for Their Travel and Luggage Transportation, As Well As to Pay out Appropriate Compensation to Low-Income Persons out of Them

The persons having received the certificate of registration of the request to recognise them as unwilling migration and their family members having arrived with them under 18 years of age are entitled for the assistance in travel and luggage transportation to the place of temporary residence (stay) on the territory of the Russian Federation. The low-income persons having received the certificate are entitled for the compensation of the travel and luggage transportation expenses.

Assistance to the mentioned persons is provided by the territorial body of the Federal Migration Service of Russia, where the person having applied for the assistance is registered, by handing out the order to buy tickets and luggage slips in a transportation organisation at the expense of own resources. The Decision lists the documents to be submitted to the Federal Migration Service of Russia to get the order. The order guarantees the purchase of travel documents in a transportation organisation to the mentioned person according to the priority procedure. The order is valid within 7 days from issue.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 704 of December 1, 2004 on the Procedure of Compensation of Expenses of Organisations and Citizens of the Russian Federation Pertaining to the Execution of the Federal Law on the Military Duty and the Military Service

Defines the rules of compensation of expenses of organisations and citizens of the Russian Federation pertaining to the execution of the mentioned Federal Law.

Compensation applies to expenses pertaining to the training of citizens in the fundamentals of the military service in educational centres of organisations, to the payments and compensations to persons participating in the measures to provide for the execution of the military duty or contract military service, to the training of the citizens in the military specialities when ordered by the military commissariat and other.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 703 of December 1, 2004 on the Federal Treasury

The Federal Treasury (Treasury of Russia) is a federal body of executive power (federal service) in charge of the judicial functions providing for the execution of the federal budget, cash services for the execution of the budgets of the budget system of the Russian Federation, preliminary and current control over operations with resources of the federal budget carried out by the chief administrators, administrators and recipients of the resources of the federal budget.

The Federal Treasury is supervised by the Ministry of Finance of Russia providing for coordination and control of its activities. The Federal Treasury controls the territorial bodies of the Federal Treasury of the Ministry of Finance of Russia.

The Decision invalidates the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 864 of August 27, 1993 on the Federal Treasury of the Russian Federation with amendments.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 107n of December 3, 2004 on the Procedure of Entry into Force of the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 102n of November 12, 2004

The Order of the Ministry of Finance of Russia No. 102n of November 12, 2004 on the amendments to the Directions on the procedure of application of the Budget Classification of the Russian Federation endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 127n of December 11, 2002 is entered into force from the day of its signing.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1532-U of November 30, 2004 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 89-P of September 24, 1999 on the Procedure of Calculation by Credit Organisations of the Amount of Market Risks

The amendments refine the notion of the "like financial instruments". Calculation of the net position excludes securities purchased under repurchase transactions and registered in Chapter "A. Balance Accounts" of the Rules of accounting work in credit organisations No. 61 of June 18, 1997. The Direction also refines the procedure of calculation of the interest rate and the funds risks.

The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. 04-5-02/3@ of December 2, 2004 on the Application of the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. SAE-3-04/366 of June 15, 2004

In view of the changing of the procedure of application of the Budget Classification of the Russian Federation, departments of the Federal Tax Service of Russia in the subjects of the Russian Federation, when they make (print) blank tax declarations for the incomes tax from natural persons Form 3-NDFL, are ordered to envisage in Section 1 "Tax Amounts Due for Payment (Repayment) to the Budget/Return from the Budget According to Taxpayer Information" an increased length of the "budget classification code" figure to twenty digits.

Federal Law No. 158-FZ of December 7, 2004 on the Ratification of the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices with Amendments of May 3, 1996 (Protocol II with Amendments of May 3, 1996) to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects

Ratifies the Protocol with amendments adopted in Geneva on May 3, 1996 with individual declarations. Thus, alternative systems in the Russian Federation are implied to be devices and technologies of non-lethal effect not being anti-personnel mines that may temporarily demobilise, paralyse or designate the presence of one or several persons without incurring an irrevocable damage.

Anti-personnel mines, other than remote-control ones, may be installed in the regions with a marked perimeter observed by military personnel and protected with a fence or otherwise to efficiently prevent the entry of civilian population in the mentioned regions. Such markings must be clear, persistent and must be at least visible to the person intending to enter the region with a marked perimeter. As a marking of the part of the perimeter of the mined region within the territory adjacent to the borderline may be regarded the state borderline designated on the ground if there are active and multiple attempts of crossing it by military personnel, with the military, economic, physical-and-geographic and other conditions not permitting to use armed forces. The civilian population will be informed appropriately of the danger of mines and will not be permitted to the mined region.

Order of the Federal Agency of Technical Regulation and Metrology No. 246 of November 17, 2004 on the Officials of the Federal Agency of Technical Regulation and Metrology and Its Territorial Bodies Authorised to Draw up the Protocols of Administrative Violations and Apply Enforcement Measures in Cases of Administrative Violations

Lists officials of the Federal Agency of Technical Regulation and Metrology and its territorial bodies authorised to draw up the protocols and apply enforcement measures in cases of administrative violations within their sphere of reference.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 2, 2004. Reg. No. 6165.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAE-3-09/16@ of November 1, 2004 on the Methodology Explanations on the Filling of the Forms of Documents Used for the State Registration of the Legal Entity and Independent Entrepreneur

Specifies the particulars of filling of the application for the state registration of legal entities of various organisational and legal forms when they are created and for the state registration of independent entrepreneur.

Provides the rules of filling of other documents used for the state registration of legal entities and independent entrepreneurs: for the state registration of the changes in the constituent documents of the legal entity, changes in the information on the legal entity other than the changes in the constituent documents, in cases of termination of the unitary enterprise because of the sale of its property complex, in cases of termination of activities of an incorporated entity, in cases of liquidation, as well as submission of the notification of the changes in the constituent documents of the legal entity, of the adoption of the decision on the liquidation, on the forming of the liquidation commission of the legal entity, assigning the receiver, of the drawing up of the intermediary liquidation balance report and to other.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1520-U of November 26, 2004 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 111-I of March 30, 2004 on the Obligatory Sale of the Part of the Currency Receipts at the Internal Currency Market of the Russian Federation

The amount of the obligatory sale of the currency receipts is reduced from 25% to 10% of the amount of the currency receipts.

The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 8, 2004. Reg. No. 6176.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 04-936/pz-n of November 12, 2004 on the Endorsement of the List of Officials of the Territorial Bodies of the Federal Service for Financial Markets Authorised to Draw up the Protocols of Administrative Violations

Lists the officials of the territorial bodies of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia authorised to draw up the protocols of administrative violations within their sphere of reference. The mentioned persons include the heads of the territorial bodies of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia and their deputies, as well as the chiefs of departments of the territorial bodies of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia and their deputies.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 7, 2004. Reg. No. 6175.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 296 of December 2, 2004 on the Endorsement of the List of Medicines

Lists the medicines sold to doctors' (feldsher's) prescriptions when rendering additional free medical aid to individual categories of citizens entitled for the state social aid.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 7, 2004. Reg. No. 6169.

Order of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation No. 485 of October 25, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Voluntary Accreditation of Organisations Engaged in Activities in the Sphere of Civil Defence, Protection of Population and Territories against Emergency Situations, Fire Safety and People Safety at Water Objects

Defines the procedure of interaction of organisations wishing to get accreditation engaged in activities in the sphere of civil defence, protection of population and territories against emergency situations, fire safety and people safety on water objects and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia.

The process of accreditation includes the following stages: submission of application for the accreditation, expert evaluation of the documents, checking of the candidate's compliance with the specified requirements for the declared type of activities, examination of the results of the expert evaluation and the results of the checking of the mentioned compliance, registration and issue of the certificate of accreditation, control over the activities of the accredited organisation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 6, 2004. Reg. No. 6168.

Order of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance No. 74 of November 24, 2004 on the Amendments to the Typical Rules of Obligatory Medical Insurance of Citizens

The amendments are introduced pursuant to the entry into force from January 1, 2005 of the Federal Law No. 122-FZ of August 22, 2004 envisaging replacement of individual benefits with monetary compensations. The Order specifies that individual categories of citizens are entitled for the additional free medical aid under the programs of state guarantees of free medical aid envisaging necessary medicines provided to doctors' (feldshers') prescriptions when rendering out-patient aid. When individual categories of citizens get necessary medicines, insurance is provided by the territorial fund of obligatory medical insurance.

The territorial fund of obligatory medical insurance shall finance within their allocated amounts the medical insurance organisation providing insurance of the granted necessary medicines proceeding form the amount of population entitled for the state social aid in the form of the set of social services according to the information contained in the Federal Register of Persons Entitled for the State Social Aid.

The amendments are entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 6, 2004. Reg. No. 6167.

Order of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia No. 135 of October 13, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Territorial Body of the Federal Antimonopoly Service

The territorial body of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia shall control and enforce observation of the legislation in the sphere of competition at the commodity markets and protection of competition at the market of financial services, activities of the subjects of natural monopolies and advertising (within the sphere of reference of the antimonopoly body specified in the legislation ).

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 2, 2004. Reg. No. 6166.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 183 of December 3, 2004 on the Endorsement of the General Regulation on the Territorial Body of the Federal Registration Service in the Subject (Subjects) of the Russian Federation

The territorial body of the Federal Registration Service in the subject (subjects) of the Russian Federation is the directorate of the Federal Registration Service in the subject (subjects) of the Russian Federation. Within their sphere of reference, the directorate is independent in their activities from the bodies of state power of the subject (subjects) of the Russian Federation and the bodies of local government. The main tasks of the directorate are: state registration of the rights for the immovable property and transactions with it for the objects of immovable property located on the territory of the registration district; state registration of public and religious associations, control and enforcement in the sphere of advocacy and notary activities; control of activities of self-regulating organisations of bankruptcy commissioners.

The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 9, 2004. Reg. No. 6180.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 186 of December 3, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Assigning of State Recorders by the Federal Registration Service and the Territorial Bodies of the Federal Registration Service

The state recorders being employees of the Federal Registration Service and its territorial bodies and heading separate divisions are assigned to their positions and dismissed from them by the Director of the Federal Registration Service. The state recorders begin deputy heads of the territorial bodies are assigned to their positions and dismissed from them by the Director of the Federal Registration Service in coordination with the Ministry of Justice. Other state recorders begin employees of the territorial bodies are assigned to their positions and dismissed from them by the heads of the territorial bodies.

The procedure does not cover the issues of assigning of the state recorders begin deputy directors of the Federal Registration Service who are assigned to their positions and dismissed from them by the President of the Russian Federation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 9, 2004. Reg. No. 6179.

Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation No. 22-1-14-1803 of November 19, 2004 on the Application of the System of Taxation for Agricultural Producers

Fishing teams (collective farms) engaged in production of agricultural produce by catching fish and water biological resources may apply the system of taxation for agricultural producers if they observe the terms specified in Article 346.2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.

Federal Law No. 159-FZ of December 11, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the General Principles of Organisation of the Legislative (Representative) and Executive Bodies of State Power of the Subjects of the Russian Federation and the Federal Law on the Main Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in the Referendum of the Citizens of the Russian Federation

According to the amendments, the higher official of the subject of the Russian Federation (head of the higher executive body of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation) is empowered with appropriate authority by the legislative (representative) body of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation at the presentation of the President of the Russian Federation.

The Law specifies the procedure and time limits for the nomination of the candidate of the higher official of the subject of the Russian Federation by the President of the Russian Federation and examination of the suggestion by the legislative body of the subject of the Russian Federation. Such proposal is introduced 35 days in advance of the expiry of the period of authority of the higher official of the subject of the Russian Federation, and the legislative body of the subject of the Russian Federation shall examine it within 14 days. The decision is considered adopted if more than half of the deputies of the legislative body of the subject of the Russian Federation has voted for it, and more than half of the deputies (members) of each of the chambers in a two-chamber legislative body. The Law also envisages the procedure and time limits for another nomination of the higher official of the subject of the Russian Federation and examination of the proposal by the legislative body of the subject of the Russian Federation in cases of rejection of the suggested candidate by the legislative body of the subject of the Russian Federation.

Besides, the Law envisages the procedure of assigning of an acting higher official of the subject of the Russian Federation by the President of the Russian Federation in a number of cases, also refines the grounds and procedure of temporary dismissal of the higher official of the subject of the Russian Federation.

The Law changes the procedure of an early termination of the authority of the legislative (representative) body of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation in individual cases. After a warning, the President of the Russian Federation may dissolve with his decree the legislative (representative) body of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation. Earlier, the draft law on the dissolving must have been introduced in the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

The Law introduces a transient provision stating that the provisions of the Federal Law pertaining to the procedure of empowering of the citizen of the Russian Federation with authority of the higher official of the subject of the Russian Federation do not apply if the election of the higher official of the subject of the Russian Federation has been appointed before the entry into force of the Federal Law.

The earlier elected higher officials of the subjects of the Russian Federation (heads of the higher executive bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation) who were elected before the entry into force of the Federal Law shall implement their authority until expiry of the specified period of authority.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication. The text of the Federal Law has been published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta on December 15, 2004, No. 277.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 185 of December 3, 2004 on the Creation of the Registration Districts Covered by the Territorial Bodies of the Federal Registration Service

Lists the names of the created territorial bodies and the subjects of the Russian Federation with the territories forming the mentioned districts.

The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 9, 2004. Reg. No. 6181.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 184 of December 3, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Assigning of the Chief State Recorders by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation

The chief state recorders are assigned to their positions and dismissed from them by the Ministry of Justice of Russia. The nomination of the candidates for the position of the chief state recorder of the appropriate subject (subjects) of the Russian Federation is vested in the Federal Registration Service of Russia.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 9, 2004. Reg. No. 6178.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of December 15, 2004 on the Case of Constitutionality of Item 3 of Article 9 of the Federal Law on Political Parties Pursuant to the Request of the Koptevsky Regional Court of the City of Moscow, Appeals of the All-Russia Public Political Organisation "Orthodox Party of Russia" and Citizens I.V.Artemov and D.A.Savin

According to the challenged provision, it is not permitted to create political parties according to occupational, race, nationality or religious affiliation implying a reference in the charter and program of the political party of the goals of protection of occupational, race, nationality or religious interests, as well as an indication of the mentioned goals in the name of the political party.

According to the applicants, the given provision violates the freedom of associations and the principle of equality in its implementation and does not comply with Article 13 (Part 5) of the Constitution of the Russian Federation specifying the grounds prohibiting in the Russian Federation creation and activities of public associations.

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation explained that the use by a political party in its name of the words and word combinations directly related to any religion or nationality is associated directly with appropriate ideological postulates, program principles and goals. If the content of the charter and program of a political party does not confirm that the party is created according to the religious or nationality affiliation, the words showing its nationality or religious affiliation must not be used in the name of the party.

The challenged Item is recognised as not contradicting the Constitution of the Russian Federation where it does not permit to create political parties according to the nationality or religious affiliation.

The Decision is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 773 of December 14, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Payment for the Provided Information on the Registered Rights, Issue of Copies of Contracts and Other Documents Showing the Essence of Unilateral Transactions Committed in Simple Written Form

The payment for the provided information on the registered rights for the object of immovable property, as well as for the issue of copies of contracts and other documents showing the essence of unilateral transactions committed in simple written form, amounts to Rbl 100 for natural persons and Rbl 300 for legal entities. The payment for the provided information on the registered rights for the enterprise as a property complex, as well as for the issue of copies of contracts and other documents showing the essence of unilateral transactions with the enterprise as a property complex committed in simple written form amounts to Rbl 600.

The payment is transferred by the payer through the bank, other credit organisation according to cash or cashless procedure and is entered as incomes in the federal budget.

The Decision lists the cases when the payment entered as incomes in the federal budget must be returned.

The Rules are entered into force from January 1, 2005 and apply to legal relations emerging after their entry into force.

Order of the Federal Agency of Construction and the Housing and Communal Sector No. 221 of November 18, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Filling of the Blank Certificates Handed out to Citizens Participating in the Subprogram "State Housing Certificates" for the Years 2004-2010 Forming Part of the Tied Federal Program "Housing" for the Years 2002-2010

Specifies the rules of filling (drawing up) of the blank state housing certificates certifying the rights of the participants of the subprogram for the subsidy at the expense of resources of the federal budget to purchase housing space.

The blank certificates are produced by the Federal Agency of Construction and the Housing and Communal Sector using printed process according to the endorsed form. The period of validity of the certificate makes 9 months from the day of issue indicated in the certificate. The date of issue of the certificate is the date of its signing by the authorised official of the body in charge of the issue of the certificates.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 10, 2004. Reg. No. 6183.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 188 of December 3, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Directorate (Department) of the Federal Registration Service in the Subject (Subjects) of the Russian Federation

The directorate (department) of the Federal Registration Service in the subject (subjects) of the Russian Federation is a territorial body of the Federal Registration Service. The directorate, within their sphere of reference, is independent in their activities from the bodies of state power of the subject (subjects) of the Russian Federation, bodies of local government. The main tasks of the directorate are: state registration of public and religions associations, control and enforcement in the sphere of advocacy and notary activities, control of activities of self-regulating organisations of bankruptcy commissioners. The Order provides the list of the directorates (departments) of the Federal Registration Service in the subject (subjects) of the Russian Federation.

The Order remains in force until December 31, 2004.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 9, 2004. Reg. No. 6177.

Order of the Central Bank of Russia No. OD-848 of December 6, 2004 on the Correction Coefficients of the Bank of Russia

To adjust the market value of the bonds of external bond loans of the Russian Federation with ISIN trade code beginning with symbols XS, as well as with the state registration numbers of individual issues accepted as a backing under the credits of the Bank of Russia, correction coefficient 0.9 is applied.

Operative Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 140-T of December 6, 2004 on the Inclusion of Securities in the Lombard List of the Bank of Russia

Includes in the Lombard List of the Bank of Russia the bonds of the loans of the city of Moscow issued in compliance with the Decision of the Government of Moscow No. 824 of October 17, 2000 with the state registration numbers of issues RU27039MOS, RU25040MOS.

The Operative Direction is applied from the day of its publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia, however, no sooner than the day when the mentioned bonds are permitted for circulation at the organised market of securities in the state federal securities sector.

The text of the Operative Direction is published in the Herald of the Bank of Russia No. 71 of December 16, 2004.

Federal Law No. 160-FZ of December 16, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Procedure of Forming of the Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Federal Law on the Status of the Member of the Council of the Federation and the Status of the Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and on the Invalidation of Item 12 of Article 1 of the Federal Law on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Status of the Member of the Council of the Federation and the Status of the Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

According to the amendments, the members of the Council of the Federation representing the single-chamber legislative (representative) bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation are elected no later than within three months after the day of the first session of the new convocation of the qualified composition. Representatives of the two-chamber legislative (representative) bodies of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation and representatives of the mentioned bodies built by rotation are elected from the day of expiry of the period the previous representatives of the appropriate bodies were elected for.

Members of the Council of the Federation representing executive bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation are assigned no later than within three months from the day of the accession of the appropriate higher official of the subject of the Russian Federation (head of the higher executive body of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation).

The authority of the member of the Council of the Federation begin with the day of adoption by the Council of the Federation of the Decision confirming the authority of the given member of the Council of the Federation. The authority is terminated from the day of adoption by the Council of the Federation of the decision confirming the authority of the new member of the Council of the Federation representing the same body of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation.

At the presentation of the Chairman of the Council of the Federation, the authority of the member of the Council of the Federation may be terminated ahead of the term by the body of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation having elected (assigned) him using the same procedure that was used to elect (assign) him as a member of the Council of the Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 790 of December 15, 2004 on the Non-Application of the Rate of the Export Customs Duty for Newsprint Paper

The rate of the export customs duty in the amount of 5% of the customs cost endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1364 of December 9, 1999 does not apply to newsprint in rolls or sheet (code according to the Foreign-Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 4801 00 000 0).

The Decision is entered into force 1 month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 774 of December 14, 2004 on the Amendments to Some of the Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Protection and Use of the Objects of Fauna

The changes pertain to the reorganisation of the federal bodies of executive power and redistribution of enforcement and control functions among individual bodies. The Decision specifies that permissions (regulatory licenses) for the circulation of wild animals of the species entered in the Red Book are issued by the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Use of Natural Resources (earlier, the Ministry of Natural Resources). The Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Use of Natural Resources shall also provide for the state registration of zoological collections of scientific, cultural, educational and aesthetic value, as well as individual outstanding exhibits and the keeping of the register of zoological collections. The same body shall issue permissions for the moving of zoological collections across the border of the Russian Federation and provide control over observation of the rules of catching of objects of fauna of the species entered in the Red Book.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 106n of November 24, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Entry of Information in the Fields of Payment Documents for the Transfer of Taxes, Fees and Other Payments to the Budget System of the Russian Federation

Introduces the new rules of entry of information identifying the payment, the payer and the recipient of the resources in the payment documents for the transfer of taxes, fees and other payments to the budget system of the Russian Federation. Information in the fields "Payer", "Recipient", "Payment Destination" of the payment documents used to transfer resources through the payment network of the Bank of Russia using electronic technologies (without accompanying payment documents on paper) must be entered using the maximum number of digits available in these fields. The taxpayers (payers of fees), tax agents, tax collectors or payers of other payments - legal entities, independent entrepreneurs, private notaries, lawyers having founded lawyer cabinets, heads of peasant (farmers') enterprises and other natural persons - shall draw up payment documents according to the rules specified for the given categories of payers.

The rules apply to credit organisations (their branches) when they draw up payment documents for the total amount for the transfer of taxes, fees and other payments to the budget system of the Russian Federation paid by natural persons without the opening of the bank account.

The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 14, 2004. Reg. No. 6187.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 689 of November 11, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Procedure of Registration of the Fact of Discovering of the Deposits of Mineral Resources

The endorsed Instruction regulates the procedure of registration of the fact of discovering of the deposits of mineral resources by the users of mineral resources having carried out geological survey works. Registration of the fact of discovering of the deposits is vested in the Federal Agency of the Use of Mineral Resources and its territorial bodies on the basis of the request drawn up according to the provided form. The request must be submitted by the applicant no later than one months after the date of signing of the statement of the state expert evaluation of the mineral reserves confirming the industrial significance of the deposit.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 14, 2004. Reg. No. 6186.

Regulation of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the Central Bank of Russia No. 108n/264-P of December 3, 2004 on the Procedure of Termination of Operations on the Accounts of the Federal Budget for the Year 2004 Opened in the Divisions of the Payment Network of the Bank of Russia and Credit Organisations (Branches)

Provides the rules of termination of operations on the accounts used to register incomes distributed by the Federal Treasury bodies of the Ministry of Finance of Russia among the levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation, as well as the particulars of termination of operations on the accounts used to register resources of the federal budget in the Russian and foreign currencies.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 14, 2004. Reg. No. 6184.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 787 of December 15, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Fundamentals of the State Regulation of Tariff Rates on the Railway Transport and the Rules of Granting of Exclusive Tariff Rates on the Railway Transport

Defines the fundamentals of the state regulation of tariff rates on the railway transport for the carried out by the subject of natural monopoly railway transportation and services using the infrastructure of the public-use railway transport subject to state regulation. The state regulation of tariff rates is implemented by endorsing and entry into force of tariff rates or their limiting level, as well as control over their correct application. Tariff rates are entered into force by the acts of the Federal Service for Tariff Rates of the Ministry of Transport of Russia.

The Decision also specifies the procedure of granting of exclusive tariff rates envisaging special tariffing terms. The given tariff rates are applied taking into account transportation conditions, condition of the markets of commodities and services, the need to provide for the competitive potential of the transportation system, promote development of new technologies on the railway transport and ensure equal terms of granting of services to all consumers.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 786 of December 15, 2004 on the Tariff Regulation of the Import of Sugar to the Russian Federation

The earlier introduced by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 720 of November 29, 2003 rates of import customs duties for raw sugar and white sugar for the year 2004 remain in force after December 31, 2004.

However, the procedure of the monthly calculation of the average monthly price for raw sugar is changed: it is calculated as an arithmetic mean of the prices for raw sugar at the New York Commodity Exchange for the current contract for all tender days for the previous 3 months (at tender closing).

The Federal Customs Service, at the customs registration of raw sugar and cane or beet sugar with flavouring or colouring additives (codes according to the Foreign-Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation 1701 11 100 1-1701 11 100 9; 1701 11 900 1-1701 11 900 9; 1701 91 000 1-1701 91 000 9) imported under the customs regime of release for internal consumption, is ordered to collect the import customs duties proceeding from the mentioned average monthly prices from the 1st of the month following the month when the mentioned information is provided by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 256 of November 22, 2004 on the Procedure of Selection on Medical Grounds and Accommodation of Patients for Sanatorium and Resort Treatment

Selection on medical grounds and accommodation of patients needing sanatorium and resort treatment is vested in the attending doctor and the chief of the department or, if the latter is not available, the head physician (his deputy) of the medical treatment and prevention institution (out-patient clinic) (at the place of residence) or the medical department (at the place of work, study).

The doctor determines the medical indications for the sanatorium and resort treatment and absence of contraindications on the basis of analysis of the objective condition of the patient and results of previous treatment, information of laboratory, functional, x-ray and other tests. In complicated and conflict situations, the statement of the expediency of sanatorium and resort treatment is issued by the medical commission of the medical treatment and prevention institution.

The Order specifies the particulars of selection on medical grounds and accommodation for sanatorium and resort treatment for children, as well as the procedure of acceptance and release of patients. Provides document Forms 070/u-04 "Certificate for the Accommodation", 072/u-04 "Sanatorium and Resort Card", 076/u-04 "Sanatorium and Resort Card for Children" and their filling procedure.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 14, 2004. Reg. No. 6189.

Amendments No. P41-26453 of December 10, 2004 to the List of the Full and Abbreviated Names of the Federal Bodies of Executive Power (Order of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation and the Office of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1363/1001 of August 6, 2004)

The amendments are introduced pursuant to the forming of the Federal Agency for Tourism, reorganisation of the Federal Agency for Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism into the Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sports and the handing over of the Federal Agency for Construction and the Housing and Communal Sector from the Ministry of the Industry and Power Supplies of Russia to the Ministry of the Regional Policy of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 805 of December 16, 2004 on the Procedure of Organisation and Activities of the Federal State Institutions of Medical and Social Expert Evaluation

The federal state institutions of the medical and social expert evaluation includes the Federal Bureau of Medical and Social Expert Evaluation and the main bureaus of medical and social expert evaluation with branches in the cities and regions. The Federal Bureau is supervised by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of Russia, the main bureaus, by the Federal Agency of Public Health and Social Development. The number of bureaus is determined as a rule proceeding form one per 70,000-90,000 persons under the condition of certification of 1,800-2,000 persons a year. Taking into account the available social and demographic, geographic and other particulars of the regions, the bureaus may be created using other population counts and the number of persons certified per year.

The bureau shall certify the citizens to define the structure and degree of disabilities (including the labour disabilities), determine the fact of available disability, disability group, reasons, duration and time of occurrence of the disability, degree of labour disability, determine the degree of loss of occupational abilities (in percent) and other.

The main bureau may arrange re-certification at their own initiative, determine the level of loss of occupational abilities (in percent) and fulfil some other functions.

The Federal Bureau, in particular, shall process appeals of citizens undergoing certification against decisions of the main bureaus, as well as arrange their re-certification and fulfil other functions.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

The Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 771 of December 12, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Providing in 2005 of Technical Means of Rehabilitation to Invalids, Prosthetic Appliances to Individual Categories of Veteran Citizens (Other Than Dentistry) at the Expense of the Resources of the Federal Budget

Defines the procedure of providing in 2005 the invalids (except for the invalids because of the industrial accidents and occupational diseases) with technical means of rehabilitation (except for the guide-dogs and monetary compensation for their maintenance and veterinary services) envisaged in the federal list of rehabilitation measures, technical means of rehabilitation and services, as well as individual categories of veteran citizens with prosthetic appliances (other than dentistry).

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 770 of December 12, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Typical Code of Professional Ethics of the Management Companies, Specialised Depositary, Brokers Engaged in Activities Pertaining to the Generation and Investing of Resources of Accumulated Pensions and the Rules of Coordination of the Codes of Professional Ethics of the Management Companies, Specialised Depositary, Brokers Engaged in Activities Pertaining to the Generation and Investing of Resources of Accumulated Pensions with the Federal Service for Financial Markets

Specifies the set of rules and procedures obligatory for observation by officials and employees of the management companies, specialised depositaries, brokers engaged in activities pertaining to generation and investing of resources of accumulated pensions, as well as the sanctions applied to the violators for the failure to observe the mentioned rules and procedures.

Also provides the rules of coordination of the codes of professional ethics with the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 769 of December 12, 2004 on the Measures of Providing Medicines to Individual Categories of Citizens Entitled for the State Social Aid in the Form of a Set of Social Services

The state registration of the prices for the medicines provided to individual categories of citizens entitled for the state social aid in the form of a set of social services and the fixing of trade mark-ups for the mentioned prices is vested in the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development in coordination with the Federal Service of Tariff Rates of Russia.

The trade mark-ups for the prices for the medicines provided to individual categories of citizens entitled for the state social aid in the form of a set of social services are included in the list of products of industrial and technical destination, popular consumption goods and services subject to the state regulation of prices (tariff rates) by the Government of the Russian Federation and the federal bodies of executive power. The rest of the trade mark-ups for the prices for the medicines and items of medical destination are specified by the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Order of the Federal Service of Tariff Rates No. 292-t/1 of December 16, 2004 on the Indexing of Tariff Rates of Payments and Fees for the Cargo Railway Transportation

Endorses the multiplying coefficients to the basic rates of Sections 2 and 3 of the Price List No. 10-01 "Tariff Rates for the Cargo Transportation and the Services of the Infrastructure Provided by the Russian Railways" (Tariff Guide No. 1, Parts 1 and 2), as well as the multiplying coefficients to the basic rates of the Tariff Guide No. 2 "Rules of Application of the Rates of Payment for the Use of Cars and Containers of the Federal Railway Transport" and Tariff Guide No. 3 "Rules of Application of the Fees for the Additional Operations Pertaining to Cargo Transportation on the Federal Railway Transport".

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6203.

Order of the Federal Service of Tariff Rates No. 295-t/4 of December 16, 2004 on the Amendment to the Price List No. 10-01 "Tariff Rates for Cargo Transportation and the Services of the Infrastructure Provided by the Russian Railways"

The amendments specify the particulars of determination of the payment for the cargo transportation over the Sakhalin Railways.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6202.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 255 of November 22, 2004 on the Procedure of Rendering of Initial Medical and Sanitary Aid to the Citizens Entitled for the Set of Social Services

Specifies the rules of rendering of initial medical and sanitary aid to invalids, war invalids, invalid children, participants of the Great Patriotic War, veterans of combat actions and other citizens entitled for the set of social services in institutions rendering initial medical and sanitary aid.

Endorses Forms 025/u-04 "Outpatient Medical Card", 025-12/u "Outpatient Slip", 030/u-04 "Control Card of Outpatient Observation", 057/u-04 "Hospitalisation, Rehabilitation Treatment, Investigation, Consultation Accommodation", 030-P/u "Certificate of the Medical Treatment District for the Citizens Entitled for the Set of Social Services", 030-R/u "Information on the Medicines Prescribed and Handed out to Citizens Entitled for the Set of Social Services" and their filling procedure.

The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 14, 2004. Reg. No. 6188.

Decision of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 7448/04 of November 25, 2004

Invalidates Paragraphs 7 and 9 of the procedure of determination of the particulars of registration of major taxpayers out of Russian organisations endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-09/319 of August 31, 2001 (with amendments of April 8, 2003) ordering the Interregional Inspection of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia for Major Taxpayers to send to them the certificate of registration in the tax body as a major taxpayer and invalidation of the earlier issued certificate as applied to major taxpayers registered in the inspection of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia for major taxpayers in other than their place of location. Besides, invalidates, as applied to the major taxpayers registered in the inspection of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia for major taxpayers at the place of location of the organisation, the provision ordering the Interregional Inspection of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia for Major Taxpayers to send to them the notification of the registration in the tax body as a major taxpayer.

Official Explanation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 31-OR of December 17, 2004 on the Application of Individual Provisions of the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 110-I of January 16, 2004 on the Obligatory Normatives of Banks

Lists the persons that may be qualified as bank insiders, i.e. natural persons capable of affecting adoption of decisions on the credits granted by the bank where the estimate of the normative of the aggregate risk (N10.1) is specified in Chapter 7 of the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 110-I of January 16, 2004. The mentioned persons include in particular: members of the board of directors (supervisory board) of the bank, sole executive body, chief accountant of the bank (branch), head of the branch of the bank, some relatives of the mentioned persons, as well as the bank employees and other natural persons capable of affecting the nature of the adopted decision on the granted credit (including the employees of the credit organisation possessing because of their official position access to confidential information permitting to affect the adopted decision on the credit granted by the bank).

Federal Law No. 168-FZ of December 20, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Political Parties

The minimum size of political parties is increased five times: from 10,000 to 50,000 members. In more than half of the subjects of the Russian Federation, the party must have regional divisions numbering at least 500 members (earlier, 100). In the rest of the regional divisions, the amount of each of them may not be less than 250 (earlier, 50) members.

The earlier registered political parties must bring the number of their members in compliance with the mentioned requirements until January 1, 2006. In cases of failure to observe the mentioned requirement, the political party must either reorganise into a public association of another organisational and legal form or be liquidated.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 167-FZ of December 20, 2004 on the Amendments to Article 23 of the Federal Law on the Physical Culture and Sports in the Russian Federation

The amendments eliminate individual inaccuracies in Article 23 "Rights and Duties of an Amateur Sportsman". Amateur sportsmen must avoid using the means (doping) and/or methods prohibited in sports.

Federal Law No. 164-FZ of December 20, 2004 on the Execution of the Budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance for the Year 2003

Endorses the report of execution of the budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance for the year 2003 with incomes amounting to Rbl 5,795.3 million and expenses amounting to Rbl 5,806.9 million, the excess of expenses over incomes being Rbl 11.6 million.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 163-FZ of December 20, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Advocacy in the Russian Federation

Specifies that an attorney may not engage in labour relations as an employee except for the scientific, teaching and other creative activities, as well as occupy state positions in the Russian Federation, state positions in the subjects of the Russian Federation, state service positions and municipal positions. The attorney may combine advocacy with the work of the head of an advocacy formation, as well as the work in elected positions of the chamber of attorneys of the subject of the Russian Federation, the Federal Chamber of Attorneys of the Russian Federation, as well as the all-Russia and international public associations of attorneys.

To get the status of an attorney, there exists the following rule: with the persons with the higher legal education being the first higher professional education, the length of work in a legal speciality begins no earlier than after graduation from the appropriate educational institution.

The Law specifies that the chambers of attorneys may not be reorganised. Their liquidation may take place on the basis of the federal law only.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication with exceptions.

Federal Law No. 162-FZ of December 20, 2004 on the Ratification of Protocol 4 between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia on the Amendments to the Treaty of March 16, 1995 between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia on the Russian Military Base on the Territory of the Republic of Armenia

Ratifies Protocol 4 signed in Yerevan on November 11, 2003.

Federal Law No. 161-FZ of December 20, 2004 on the Ratification of the Protocol on the Amendments to the Agreement on the Main Principles of the Military and Technical Cooperation between the Member-States of the Collective Security Treaty of May 15, 1992

Ratifies the Protocol signed in Yalta on September 19, 2003.

Order of the Federal Agency for Construction and the Housing and Communal Sector No. 197 of November 5, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Receiving, Registration, Storage and Destruction of the Blank Certificates Handed out to Citizens Participating in the Subprogram "State Housing Certificates" for the Years 2004-2010 Forming Part of the Tied Federal Program "Housing" for the Years 2002-2010

Regulates the rules of receiving, registration, storage and destruction of the blank housing certificates. Registration of the blank certificates is arranged on the basis of numbered records. Registration of the blank certificates in the bodies of executive power handing out them is arranged in the logbook of endorsed form.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6211.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 701 of November 24, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Preparation and Endorsement of the Act of the On-Site Technical Investigation of the Plot of the Forestry Fund

Within one calendar month from the day of endorsement of the act of selection of the plot of the forestry fund, the forestry enterprise shall arrange an on-site technical investigation of the requested plot of the forestry fund and draw up the act of such investigation refining the forestry planning materials. The forestry enterprise may attract a specialised forestry planning organisation to participate in the on-site technical investigation. The act is endorsed within 2 weeks by the head of the forestry agency of the appropriate subject of the Russian Federation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6207.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 702 of November 24, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Act of Selection of the Plot of the Forestry Fund

Endorses the form of the act of selection of the plot of the forestry fund used to convert the forestry lands into non-forestry ones for their use for the purposes other than the forestry activities and use of the forestry fund.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6206.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 36 of November 22, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Blank Forms of Licenses, License Cards, Access Certificates and Access Cards

Endorses the blank forms of licenses for commercial passenger transportation by cars, passenger transportation in vehicles carrying more than 8 persons, cargo transportation by vehicles carrying more than 3.5 tons (except for the cases when such activities are carried out for the own needs of the legal entity or independent entrepreneur).

Also endorses the blank form of the license card for the motor vehicle, the blank form of the certificate of access of Russian carriers to international highway transportation and the blank form of the access card for the motor vehicle to international highway transportation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6204.

Order of the Federal Service of Tariff Rates No. 296-t/5 of December 16, 2004 on the Fixing of Exclusive Tariff Rates for Cargo Railway Transportation for the Year 2005

Specifies exclusive tariff rates in the form of reduction coefficients to the actual tariff rates for the return of empty own (leased) cars of the Pricelist No. 10-01 "Tariff Rates for Cargo Transportation and the Services of the Infrastructure Provided by the Russian Railways" to calculate the cost of cargo transportation of specified weight and length out of own (leased) multi-purpose cars. Also specifies individual exclusive tariff rates in the form of coefficients to the actual tariff rate of the Pricelist No. 10-01 and the special rates for cargo railway transportation. The period of validity of the mentioned exclusive tariff rates is fixed from January 1 through December 31, 2005 inclusive.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6201.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 711 of November 29, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Examination of Requests for the Right of Use of Subsoil Resources for the Purposes of Collection of Mineralogical, Palaeontology and Other Geological Collection Materials

Defines the procedure of processing of requests for the right of use of subsoil resources for the purpose of collection of mineralogical, palaeontology and other geological collection materials, including the samples of minerals, rocks and ores, petrified residues of fauna and flora that may be used to create and replenish collections of scientific, decorative art and other destination, as well as materials for popular crafts. The endorsed procedure does not apply to collection of geological collection materials containing precious metals and precious stones.

Materials of applications for the right of use of subsoil resources are examined within 30 days from the date of receiving of the mentioned materials.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6196.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 712 of November 29, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Examination of Requests for the Right of Use of Subsoil Resources to Form the Specially Protected Geological Objects

Defines the procedure of processing of requests of the right of use of subsoil resources to form the specially protected geological objects of scientific, cultural, aesthetic, sanitary and rehabilitation and other significance (scientific and educational fields, geological sanctuaries, reserves, monuments of nature, caves and other subsoil cavities). The request is submitted to the Federal Agency of Use of Natural Resources or its territorial body which must examine the expediency of creation of the specially protected geological object within 30 days from the date of receiving of the materials.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6194.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 192 of December 8, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Procedure of Assigning of Conditional Numbers to the Objects of Immovable Property at the State Registration of the Rights for Immovable Property and Transactions with It That Do Not Have Cadastral Numbers Assigned According to the Procedure Specified in the Legislation

Identification of the object of immovable property in the Joint State Register of the Rights for Immovable Property and Transactions with It is arranged using the conditional number in cases when the object of immovable property was not assigned a cadastral number according to established procedure. Identification of the land plot in the Joint State Register of the Rights for Immovable Property and Transactions with It is arranged using the cadastral number assigned to it by the body in charge of the keeping of the State Land Cadastre. The conditional number has the following structure: A-B-C-D, where: A is the two-digit number of the subject of the Russian Federation, B is the two-digit number of the registration district, C is the eleven-digit number of the logbook of incoming documents, D is the three-digit ordinal number of the record in the logbook of incoming documents.

The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6193.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation of December 23, 2004 on the Case of Constitutionality of Subitem 8 of Item 1 of Article 238 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Collective Appeal of Citizens A.I.Berezov, G.A.Vasyutinskaya, V.P.Kraynyukov, S.P.Moldashov, S.N.Panin, V.N.Potapov, A.I.Pudovkin and V.N.Yunda, As Well As the Appeal of Citizen L.A.Galayeva

According to the challenged item, the uniform social tax does not apply to the amounts paid out at the expense of the member fees of the gardening, garage construction and housing construction cooperatives (partnerships) to persons fulfilling works (services) for the mentioned organisations. According to the applicants, the failure to pay the uniform social tax by cooperatives (partnerships) excludes for those working in them implementation of the constitutional right for the pension support, since neither cooperatives, nor these persons replenish the budget of the Pension Fund. In the determination of the right for the labour pension, the periods of work in the mentioned organisations are not included in the length of service.

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised as complying with the Constitution of the Russian Federation Subitem 8 of Item 1 of Article 238 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, since opportunities of transfer by the persons fulfilling works (services) for the gardening, garage construction and housing construction cooperatives (partnerships) of insurance contributions to the Pension Fund on the voluntary basis is not excluded by the legal provisions pertaining to the right of these persons for the pension support.

The judicial decisions on the cases of the applicants must be revised taking into account their right to engage on the voluntary basis in the legal relations in obligatory pension insurance.

The Decision is entered into force immediately after annunciation.

Federal Law No. 166-FZ of December 20, 2004 on the Fishing and Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources

Defines the legal fundamentals of activities in the catching of aquatic bioresources implying fishes, aquatic invertebrates, aquatic mammals, aquatic plants, other aquatic animals and plants available in the state of natural freedom.

The Law introduces differentiated legal regime for aquatic bioresources requiring to take into account their scientifically substantiated biological particulars, economic significance, opportunities of use, region of catching and other factors. Aquatic bioresources are federally owned except for the aquatic bioresources available in the isolated water objects (they may be also in the property of the subjects of the Russian Federation, municipal and private property).

One of the main principles is the paid nature of use of aquatic bioresources stating that any use of aquatic bioresources is implemented for payment, except for the cases envisaged in the federal laws.

To provide for the conservation of the aquatic bioresources and their rational use, restrictions may be imposed on fishing. Such restrictions include, in particular, prohibition of fishing in certain regions and those pertaining to individual types of aquatic bioresources, minimum amounts and weight of the caught aquatic bioresources, types of permitted instruments and methods of catching of aquatic bioresources and other.

The right for the withdrawal of the aquatic bioresources from their habitat is certified with a permission.

Federal Law No. 165-FZ of December 20, 2004 on the Budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance for the Year 2005

Endorses the budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance for the year 2005 with incomes amounting to Rbl 88,991,722.8 thousand, expenses amounting to Rbl 88,991,722.8 thousand. Defines the sources of internal financing of the deficit of the fund budget for the year 2005, endorses the structure of expenses.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 817 of December 21, 2004 on the Endorsement of the List of Diseases Permitting the Invalids Suffering from Them to Claim Additional Housing Space

Lists the diseases permitting the invalids suffering from them to claim additional housing space.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 814 of December 20, 2004 on the Authorised Federal Body of Executive Power in Charge of Endorsement of the Boundaries of Municipal Formations

The authorised federal body of executive power in charge of the endorsement of the boundaries of municipal formations other than those endorsed by the bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation before January 1, 2005 is the Ministry of the Regional Policy of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 811 of December 20, 2004 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 384 of May 18, 2001 on the Program of the Structural Reform on the Railway Transport

Specifies that reformation of the railway transport includes creation of joint-stock companies based on the property of independent structural divisions of the OAO Russian Railways by instituting affiliated joint-stock companies or reorganisation of the OAO Russian Railways in the form of separation of the joint-stock company engaged in long-range passenger transportation.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1530-U of December 17, 2004 on the Procedure of Drawing up of the Annual Accounting Report by Credit Organisations

Specifies the composition and procedure of drawing up of the annual accounting report of the credit organisation. The annual accounting report is drawn up for the period beginning on January 1 of the reported period and ending on December 31 of the reported period (inclusive) as of January 1 of the year following the reported one. The procedure and time limits of the drawing up of the annual accounting report are endorsed in the accounting policy of the credit organisation proceeding from the specified in the constituent documents procedure of submission of the annual report for the endorsement of the general meeting of stock-holders (participants) and taking into account the time limits of the audit check. The Direction specifies the procedure of reflecting in the accounting work of events after the reporting date.

The composition of the annual accounting report of the credit organisation includes the annual balance report as of January 1 of the new year according to the form of the turnover balance sheet for the reported year, report of profits and losses taking into account the events after the reporting date, summary sheet of turnovers reflecting the events after the reporting date, audit statement for the annual accounting report and the explanatory note.

The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia. The text of the Direction has been published in the Herald of the Bank of Russia on December 23, No. 73.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 21, 2004. Reg. No. 6215.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1531-U of December 17, 2004 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 205-P of December 5, 2002 on the Rules of Accounting Work in Credit Organisation Located on the Territory of the Russian Federation

Provides the new wording for the names and characteristics of Accounts 40301 "Resources of Election Commissions (Referendum Commissions)" and 40504 "Accounts of Organisations of the Federal Postal Communication for Transfer Operations". Specifies that operations pertaining to events after the reporting date are registered in the sheet of turnovers after the reporting date and the summary sheet of turnovers after the reporting date.

The Direction must be published in the Herald of the Bank of Russia and is entered into force from January 1, 2005 with exceptions.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 21, 2004. Reg. No. 6214.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1519-U of November 26, 2004 on the Procedure of Submission by Credit Organisations to the Authorised Body of Information on the Cases of Refusal to Conclude a Bank Account (Deposit) Contract with a Natural Person or Legal Entity and to Carry out an Operation with Monetary Resources or Other Property

Specifies the particulars of submission by credit organisations to the Federal Service of Financial Monitoring of information on the cases of refusal to conclude a bank account (deposit) contract with a natural person or legal entity and to carry out an operation with monetary resources or other property. Such information is submitted by credit organisations no later than within the working day following the day of committing the mentioned actions. The Direction provides the description of the structure of the DBF file and the notification file in the form of the electronic message.

The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia. The text of the Direction has been published in the Herald of the Bank of Russia on December 23, 2004, No. 73.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6210.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 195 of November 16, 2004 on the Procedure of Keeping of the Federal Register of Persons Entitled for the State Social Aid

Defines the rules of keeping of the Federal Register of Persons Entitled for the State Social Aid including the procedure, time limits and form of submission of information to it. The keeping of the Register, including the software and the technology of verification of information obtained from the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation against the database of the Pension Fund, is vested in the Pension Fund and its territorial bodies.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6209.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 715 of December 2, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Processing of Requests for the Right of Use of the Mineral Resources for the Purpose of Construction and Operation of Underground Structures Other Than Those Pertaining to Extraction of the Mineral Resources

Defines the procedure of processing of requests for the right of use of the mineral resources for the purpose of construction and operation of underground structures other than those pertaining to extraction of the mineral resources, including construction and operation of oil and gas storages in the rock layers, disposal of industrial and household waste.

The procedure does not apply to construction and operation of underground structures located up to five meters under the soil level, construction of basements of buildings and structures, lines of electric, gas, thermal and water supplies and the sewerage, structures of subways and other transport tunnels, arterial and industrial pipelines, irrigation and navigation channels. The procedure does not apply either to the subsoil sites provided for use for the purposes of construction and operation of underground structures of local significance other than those pertaining to extraction of mineral resources.

To get the right of use of the subsoil site, the applicant shall submit the request and a number of other listed documents to the Federal Agency of Use of Subsoil Resources or its territorial bodies.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6195.

Order of the Federal Service of Tariff Rates No. 193-e/11 of November 23, 2004 on the Amendments to the Methodology Directions for the Calculation of the Regulated Tariff Rates and Prices for the Electric (Thermal) Power at the Retail (Consumer) Market Endorsed by the Order of the Federal Service of Tariff Rates No. 20-e/2 of August 6, 2004

Specifies that in the estimates of tariff rates for the electric (thermal) power sold by the power-supply organisations to other power-supply (trade) organisations, the latter are regarded as consumers.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 16, 2004. Reg. No. 6191.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 827 of December 22, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Processing of Requests for the Right of Use of Subsoil Resources for the Purposes of Storage of Radioactive, Toxic and Other Hazardous Waste in Deep Strata Providing for the Localisation of Such Waste

Defines the procedure of processing of requests for the right of use subsoil resources for the purposes of storage of radioactive, toxic and other hazardous waste in deep strata providing for the localisation of such waste. Lists the documents submitted together with the request to the Federal Agency for the Use of Subsoil Resources to get the right of use of subsoil resources for the mentioned purposes. The materials of the request shall be processed within 60 days.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 825 of December 22, 2004 on the Amendments to the Rules of Registration and Removal from Records of the Citizens of the Russian Federation at the Place of Stay or Place of Residence within the Boundaries of the Russian Federation Endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 713 of July 17, 1995

Specifies that citizens having arrived for temporary stay in the housing space other than their place of residence for more than 90 days (earlier, 10 days) must apply for the registration to the authorised persons upon expiry of this term (earlier, within 3 days from the day of arrival) (excluding days-off and holidays).

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 820 of December 21, 2004 on the State Fire Enforcement

Officials of the bodies of state fire enforcement being state fire enforcement inspectors shall carry out their activities in the checking of observation of the fire safety requirements by the federal and regional bodies of executive power, bodies of local government, legal entities and independent entrepreneurs, citizens of the Russian Federation, foreign citizens and stateless persons, as well as officials.

The Decision defines the sphere of reference of the bodies of state fire enforcement and fire enforcement inspectors.

The endorsed provision does not apply to the procedure of control (enforcement) of observation of the fire safety requirements in the forestry fund of the Russian Federation and the forests other than those included in the forestry fund of the Russian Federation, as well as the underground objects and production, transportation, storage, use and utilisation of explosives in organisations fulfilling blasting works using explosives of industrial destination.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 818 of December 21, 2004 on the Federal Bodies of Executive Power Authorised to Define the Procedure of Drawing up and Issue of Certificates to Individual Categories of Citizens out of Those Having Been Exposed to Radiation Because of the Disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station and Citizens from the Special Risk Divisions

The bodies authorised to define the procedure of drawing up and issue of certificates to citizens out of those having been exposed to radiation because of the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station are the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of Russia and the Ministry of Finance of Russia.

The body authorised to define the procedure of drawing up and issue of certificates to citizens from special risk divisions is the Ministry of Defence of Russia.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 285 of November 29, 2004 on the Invalidation of the Decisions of the Ministry of Labour of Russia No. 16 of June 25, 1999 and No. 77 of October 23, 2001

The mentioned documents are invalidated pursuant to the entry into force of the Regulation on the particulars of the working time and leisure time regime of automobile drivers endorsed by the of the Ministry of Transport No. 15 of August 20, 2004.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6208.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 205 of November 22, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Territorial Body of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development in the Subject of the Russian Federation (Department of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development in the Subject of the Russian Federation)

The territorial body of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development is the Department of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development in the subject of the Russian Federation in charge of control and enforcement in the sphere of public health and social development on the territory of the appropriate subject of the Russian Federation.

The Department of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development shall enforce pharmacy activities, observation of state standards, technical requirements for the products of medical destination, control the procedure of determination of the loss of professional abilities as a result of industrial accidents and occupational diseases, the quality, safety and procedure of use of medicines and other.

The Department of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development shall also license the medical, pharmacy activities, activities pertaining to circulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and other.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6198.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 710 of November 29, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Processing of Requests for the Right of Use of Subsoil Resources for the Purposes of Extraction of Underground Waters Used to Supply the Population with Potable Water or for Technological Water Supplies for Industrial Objects

Defines the procedure of processing of requests for the right of use of subsoil resources for the purposes of extraction of underground waters used to supply the population with potable water or for technological water supplies for industrial objects. The procedure does not apply to household drawwells and the wells to the first from the surface water-bearing stratum not being the source of centralised water supplies.

The Order lists the documents submitted together with the request to the Federal Agency for the Use of Subsoil Resources to get the right of use of the subsoil site. Materials of the application shall be processed within 30 days.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6197.

Federal Law No. 172-FZ of December 21, 2004 on the Transfer of Lands or Land Plots from One Category to Another

The Law regulates legal relations emerging in cases of changes of the designation of lands. Specifies the procedure of actions of the state bodies and the bodies of local government in the transfer of lands from one category into another: procedure of initiation of the transfer of lands, essence of the requests and terms, time limits for their consideration, adoption of the decisions on the transfer of lands and the content of such decisions, grounds of refusal of transfer, procedure of appealing against the mentioned decisions. Besides, specifies the particulars of transfer of individual categories into other categories, obligatory nature of inclusion of lands in a certain category and the transfer of lands from one category into another before the delimitation of the state property right for the land.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 5, 2005.

Federal Law No. 171-FZ of December 21, 2004 on the Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on the Protection of Consumer Rights and on Invalidation of Item 28 of Article 1 of the Federal Law on the Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on the Protection of Consumer Rights

The amendments are aimed mainly at the enhancing of guarantees of implementation of consumers rights. The Law introduces responsibility of importing organisations and independent entrepreneurs for the inappropriate quality of the imported commodities, as well as organisations and independent entrepreneurs authorised to accept and satisfy consumer claims pertaining to quality created or fulfilling respective functions on the basis of the contract with foreign producers.

The Law also includes provisions providing for the protection of consumer rights when the commodities are sold remotely, i.e. when the consumer concludes contracts on the basis of description of commodities available in the catalogues, prospectuses, booklets, photographs, over TV and radio, via Internet or otherwise without permitting the consumer to see the commodity or commodity specimen directly. Such cases envisage additional guarantees of consumer rights - the right to refuse the commodity before its transfer to the consumer and after it within seven days, special requirements to the information on the commodity and the method of its presentation and other.

The amendments also provide for the seller and producer right to introduce additional obligations pertaining to commodity defects revealed after expiry of the guarantee period specified by the producer. The essence of the additional obligation, its period of validity, procedure of implementation of consumer rights is defined by the seller in the contract with the consumer, as well as by the producer - independently.

The Law changes Article 13 of the Law specifying the responsibility of the seller (producer, executor) for the violation of consumer rights. When a court satisfies consumer claims, the producer (executor, seller, authorised organisation or authorised independent entrepreneurs, importer) shall pay the fine of 50% of the amount defined in favour of the consumer by the court for the failure to satisfy consumer claims on the voluntary basis.

The amendments to Article 17 specify that claims of protection of consumer rights may be filed at the place of location of the organisation/place of residence of the independent entrepreneur at the plaintiff choice, or the place of residence or stay of the plaintiff or the place of conclusion or execution of the contract. If the claim pertains to activities of the branch or representation of the organisation, it may be filed at their place of residence.

The provisions of the Federal Law pertaining to the need to convey information on the importer to the consumer are entered into force 90 days after the day of its official publication of the Federal Law.

Federal Law No. 170-FZ of December 21, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Main Guarantees of the Rights of Children in the Russian Federation

The amendments are introduced in the set of notions of the Law: the Law introduces the notions of "leisure and rehabilitation of children" and "organisation of leisure of children and their rehabilitation". The amendments also change Article 13 describing protection of the rights and legal interests of children when the social infrastructure for children is being built.

Federal Law No. 169-FZ of December 21, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2004

According to the amendments, the Pension Fund is permitted to finance in December 2004 the monthly monetary payment to individual categories of citizens entitled for the mentioned payment from January 1, 2005 pursuant to the replacement of the benefits with monetary compensations at the expense of the reserve within the limits of Rbl 8 billion followed by subsequent reimbursement of the mentioned expenses from the federal budget envisaged for transfer to the Fund in January 2005.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 833 of December 23, 2004 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Pipe Fixtures

Refines the rates of the import customs duties for individual types of taps, valves, and similar auxiliaries for pipelines, boilers, tanks and similar capacities. The rate of the import customs duties for such commodities is fixed in the amount of 15% of the customs cost.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1522-U of November 30, 2004 on the Amendments to the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1390-U of March 1, 2004 on the Procedure of Informing of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation of the Use of Internet Technologies in Their Work by Credit Organisations

Since Form 0409070 "Information of the Use of Internet Technologies by the Credit Organisation" is envisaged in the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1376-U of January 16, 2004 (in the wording of the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1481-U of July 27, 2004), the similar form is excluded from the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1390-U of March 1, 2004).

The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 22, 2004. Reg. No. 6223.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1521-U of November 30, 2004 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 242-P of December 16, 2003 on the Organisation of Internal Control in Credit Organisations and Bank Groups

Since Form 0409639 "Certificate of Internal Control in the Credit Organisation" is envisaged in the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1376-U of January 16, 2004 (in the wording of the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1481-U of July 27, 2004), the similar form is excluded from the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 242-P of December 16, 2003.

The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 22, 2004. Reg. No. 6222.

Order of the Federal Service of Tariff Rates No. 194-e/12 of November 23, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Methodology Directions for the Regulation of Retail Prices for Gas Sold to the Population

Defines the main principles and procedure of generation and regulation of retail prices for gas sold to the population, as well as the housing and construction cooperatives, partnerships of owners of housing and other similar organisations for consumption using local household appliances, except for the volumes of gas used for centralised heating and for commercial purposes.

Defines the principles of generation of retail prices for the natural gas, procedure of calculation of retail prices and their fixing. Provides recommended coefficients to differentiate the regional component of the retail prices by gas consumers.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6212.

Order of the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communication of the Russian Federation No. 26 of November 9, 2004 on the Entry into Force of the Procedure of Assigning of the Postal Indices to the Objects of Postal Communication of Organisations of the Federal Postal Service

Lists the documents submitted by the organisation of the federal postal service to the Federal Communication Agency when the decisions are taken to create, locate, change the working regime, eliminate the objects of postal communication to obtain, change or withdraw the postal index of the object of postal communication. The decision to issue, change or withdraw the postal index of the object of postal communication or to refuse to implement the suggested changes is taken by the Federal Communication Agency within 15 days from the date of receiving of these documents.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2004. Reg. No. 6205.

Federal Law No. 174-FZ of December 23, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Budget Classification of the Russian Federation and the Budget Code of the Russian Federation

The main changes pertain to the structure of the code of the Budget Classification. The new wording is provided to the Classification of Incomes of the Budgets of the Russian Federation, the Functional Classification of Expenses of the Budgets of the Russian Federation, the List of Tied Items of the Functional Classification of Expenses of the Budgets of the Russian Federation, the List of the Types of Expenses of the Functional Classification of Expenses of the Budgets of the Russian Federation, Economic Classification of Expenses of the Budgets of the Russian Federation, Classification of the Sources of Internal Financing of the Deficits of the Budgets of the Russian Federation, Classification of the Sources of External Financing of the Deficits of the Federal Budget and the Budgets of the Subjects of the Russian Federation, Classification of the Types of State External Debts of the Russian Federation and the Subjects of the Russian Federation, as well as the state external assets of the Russian Federation.

Invalidates the Agency Classification of Expenses of the Federal Budget and the Structure of Expenses of the Budgets of the Subjects of the Russian Federation and Municipal Formations.

Introduces the new Appendix 11.1 "Chief Administrators of Resources of the Federal Budget - Administrators of Receipts in the Budgets of the Russian Federation".

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication. It applies to relations emerging when compiling and executing the budgets of all levels beginning with the budgets for the year 2005.

Federal Law No. 173-FZ of December 23, 2004 on the Federal Budget for the Year 2005

Endorses the federal budget for the year 2005 with expenses amounting to Rbl 3,047,929.3 million and incomes amounting to Rbl 3,326,041.1 million proceeding from the forecasted GDP volume of Rbl 18,720 billion and the level of inflation (consumer prices) of 7.5% to 8.5% (December 2005 to December 2004). The surplus of incomes over expenses of the federal budget in 2005 is fixed in the amount of Rbl 278,111.8 million.

Resources of the Stabilisation Fund of the Russian Federation in excess of the accumulated amount of Rbl 500.0 billion may be used to cover the deficit of the budget of the Pension Fund in the course its execution and to redeem the state external debt.

The Law specifies that the normatives of payment for the negative impact on the environment that were in effect in 2003 shall apply in 2005 with the factor of 1.2 (in 2004, the factor was fixed in the amount of 1.1).

The Law preserves the provision stating that the Bank of Russia shall transfer 80% of the actually received profit at the end of the year after taxes and fees to the federal budget.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication. The text of the Federal Law has been published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta on December 28, 2004, No. 288.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1603 of December 27, 2004 on the Procedure of Examination of the Candidates for the Position of the Higher Official (Head of the Higher Executive Body of State Power) of the Subject of the Russian Federation

Candidates for the position of the higher official (head of the higher executive body of state power) of the subject of the Russian Federation shall be presented to the President of the Russian Federation by the Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. Suggested candidates are introduced to the Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation by the plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the appropriate federal district. When suggesting the candidates, their reputation, experience of public (state) work, as well as the results of the preliminary consultations with public associations of the appropriate subject of the Russian Federation are taken into account.

The Decree is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1516-U of November 17, 2004 on the Procedure of Contest Selection of the Agent Banks to Effect the Payments of the Bank of Russia on the Deposits of Natural Persons

Defines the rules and procedure of contest selection of the agent banks to effect payments of the Bank of Russia on the deposits of natural persons in the bankrupt banks failing to participate in the system of insurance of the deposits of natural persons in the banks of the Russian Federation.

The payment for the participation in the contest selection is not charged.

The Direction specifies the requirements permitting to obtain the right of participation in the contest selection. In particular, the bank must have the amount of own resources (capital) at least Rbl 3 billion, attract in deposits resources of natural persons for at least 3 years, as well as have at least 10 branches located on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 22, 2004. Reg. No. 6228.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 111n of December 8, 2004 on the Organisation of Work in 2004 to Redeem the State Debt in the Form of the Bonds of the State Tied Interest-Free Loans of 1990 and the Tied Payment Checks for the Purchase of Cars under the Writs of Execution of Judicial Bodies

Redemption of the state debt in the form of the bonds of the state tied interest-free loans of 1990 and the tied payment checks for the purchase of cars under the writs of execution of judicial bodies shall be arranged through the Federal Treasury departments of the Ministry of Finance of Russia in the subjects of the Russian Federation in compliance with the established procedure of voluntary execution of the demands of the writ of execution. The paying out of the monetary resources to citizens under the mentioned bonds and the tied payment checks is arranged on the basis of their written applications to the accounts indicated by them in the credit organisations of the Russian Federation.

The writs of execution of judicial bodies are covered at the expense of resources of the federal budget envisaged under Code 02002 "Redemption of the Main Amount of Debt" of Code 02000 "Other Sources of Internal Financing of the Deficits of the Budgets" of the Classification of the Sources of Internal Financing of the Deficits of the Budgets of the Russian Federation. Amounts of payments within the limits of the envisaged compensation for the appropriate type of commodities are taken into account to offset the resources envisaged in the federal budget for the redemption of the state commodity obligations.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 22, 2004. Reg. No. 6224.

Order of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation No. 506 of November 4, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Typical Safety Certificate of the Hazardous Object

The typical safety certificate is designed to work out safety certificates for the objects using, producing, processing, storing or transporting radioactive, flammable and explosive, hazardous chemical and biological substances, hydrotechnical structures in cases of possible emergencies. The mentioned requirements do not apply to the objects of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The safety certificate is worked out to determine the figures of the risk of emergency situations for the personnel of the hazardous object and the nearby population and to work out the measures to reduce the risk and alleviate the consequences of emergency situations at the hazardous object.

The working out of the safety certificate of the hazardous object is vested in the management of the object.

The certificate is drawn up as of the beginning of January of the current year and is extended or adjusted as soon as necessary while amending all copies.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 22, 2004. Reg. No. 6218.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 294 of November 30, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Effecting of the Monthly Monetary Payment to Individual Categories of Citizens in the Russian Federation

Specifies the procedure of applying for the monthly monetary payment for individual categories of citizens, processing of these applications by the territorial body of the Pension Fund, defines the rules of assigning, calculation and organisation of delivery of the monthly monetary payment.

Introduces the general rule stating that only one monthly payment may be granted at the citizen's choice if he is entitled for the monthly payment envisage in several federal laws simultaneously regardless of the reason. If the citizen is entitled for the monthly payment for several reasons envisaged in one federal law, he may get a higher monthly payment. The indexing of the amount of the monthly monetary payment is arranged according to the procedure and within the time limits envisaged for the indexing of the amount of the basic part of the labour pension.

The Order provides the reference list of the categories of citizens entitled for the monthly monetary payment defined in the legislation of the Russian Federation.

The delivery of the assigned monthly payment to the pensioner registered in the Pension Fund is arranged through the organisation delivering the pension. The delivery of the monthly monetary payment to other citizens is arranged through the organisation of the federal postal communication at the place of residence of the citizen if otherwise is not specified in the written application of the citizen.

The monthly monetary payment is assigned from the day of applying for it, however, no sooner than the right for the mentioned payment occurs. The day of applying for the monthly monetary payment is considered to be the day of accepting of the application drawn up according to the provided form with all necessary documents by the territorial body of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation.

When fixing the monthly monetary payment from January 1, 2005 to persons with level III, II and I restrictions of labour abilities, disability groups I, II and III apply respectively without re-certification if certified before January 1, 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 21, 2004. Reg. No. 6216.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. 07-0-13/5131@ of December 20, 2004 on the Amendments to the Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. VB-6-31/707 of September 8, 1999

Specifies that the application for the purchase of special stamps shall have attached the request drawn up according to the provided form to indicate the number by the types of special stamps.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 857 of December 27, 2004 on the Invalidation of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 826 of November 28, 2001

The invalidated Decision specified the minimum and maximum rates of payment for the use of water objects for the basins of rivers, lakes, seas and economic regions. The mentioned rates are specified in Chapter 25.2 "Water Tax" of the Tax Code to be entered into force from January 1, 2005.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 847 of December 27, 2004 on the Indexing in 2004 of the Amounts of Compensations and Other Payments to Citizens Having Been Exposed to Radiation because of the Disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station

Endorses the rules of indexing in 2004 of the amounts of compensations and other payments to citizens having been exposed to radiation because of the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station.

Compensations and other payments are being indexed from May 29, 2004 using the factor of 1.1 proceeding from the level of inflation specified in the Federal Law on the federal budget for the year 2004. Individual monthly monetary compensations are indexed from June 1, 2004 using the factor of 1.38 determined as a sum total proceeding from the level of inflation specified in the Federal Laws on the federal budgets for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. The amount of the mentioned compensation taking into account the indexing may not be greater than the maximum amount of the monthly insurance payment specified in the Federal Law on the budget of the Social Insurance Fund of Russia for the appropriate year.

Besides, there is an indexing of the monthly monetary payment for the families having lost the breadwinner out of citizens killed as a result of the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, having died because of the radiation sickness and other diseases occurring because of the Chernobyl disaster.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 845 of December 27, 2004 on the Transfer of the Day-Off in 2005

In 2005, the day-off from the Saturday of March 5 is transferred to March 7.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 840 of December 24, 2004 on the List of Measures to Reorganise the Coal Industry and Their Financing Procedure

The reorganisation of the coal industry includes liquidation of organisations of the coal industry, assistance to provide for the combat readiness of the rescue units, support of the works to develop new technologies, ensuring safe working conditions and improvement of the ecological situation in the coal extracting regions and other. Special attention is paid to the social support of the dismissed employees and implementation of the program of local development and providing employment in the miners' cities and residential settlements.

From January 1, 2005, invalidates the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1523 of December 3, 1997 on the state financing of the measures to reorganise the coal industry with amendments.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 839 of December 24, 2004 on the Travelling Procedure for the Employees of the Transport Prosecutor's Offices within the Covered Areas When Executing Service Duties on the Railway, Internal Water (River), Sea and Air Transport

Employee of the transport prosecutor's office when executing service duties shall get travel document (ticket) for the travel within the covered area upon presentation of the service transportation order in exchange for the token to this order according to the indicated category. The Decision provides the forms of these documents.

Organisations (regardless of the organisational and legal form and form of ownership) selling travel documents (tickets) must accept the service transportation order and the token to it and hand out travel documents (tickets) according to preemption procedure. Reimbursement of expenses is arranged on the quarterly basis by the bodies of the prosecutor's office of the subjects of the Russian Federation on the basis of the bills presented by transport organisations.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 813 of December 20, 2004 on the Currency Operations Carried out by the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation

The Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation may carry out all types of currency operations covered by the Federal Law on the currency regulation and currency control without restrictions.

Federal Law No. 209-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Removal of the Reservation of the Russian Federation to Articles 16 and 18 of the Treaty on the Customs Union and the Uniform Economic Environment

Removes the reservation stating that the Russian Federation in its mutual trade with the member-states of the Customs Union and the Uniform Economic Environment Treaty, except for the Republic of Belarus, and other CIS member-states shall switch over from July 1, 2001 to collection of indirect taxes using the principle of the country of destination, except for the taxes on oil, including the stable gas condensate, and the natural gas.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Federal Law No. 201-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Amendments to Article 112 of the Labour Code of the Russian Federation

The amendments introduce additional non-working holidays: New Year Vacation (January 1-5) and the Popular Unity Day (November 4). The Law abandons individual non-working holidays: November 7 (Anniversary of the October Revolution. Day of Accord and Conciliation) and December 12 (Day of the Constitution of the Russian Federation). The Spring and Labour Day shall be celebrated on May 1 (earlier, May 1 and 2).

Employee earnings because of the introduction of the non-working holidays will not be reduced. Piece-work employees will get their wages for the non-working holidays in the amount specified in the local normative acts of the organisations adopted taken into account the opinion of the elected trade-union body, collective contract, agreements, labour contract.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Federal Law No. 200-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Amendments to Article 1 of the Federal Law on the Days of the Military Glory (Victory Days) of Russia

According to the amendments, the list of the days of the military glory of Russia shall include also the Popular Unity Day (November 4). The Law changes the Day of the Military Glory of November 7: it will be celebrated as the Day of the Military Parade at the Red Square in the City of Moscow in Commemoration of the 24th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution (1941).

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Federal Law No. 199-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Amendments to the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Expansion of Authority of the Bodies of State Power of the Subjects of the Russian Federation in the Common Sphere of Reference of the Russian Federation and the Subjects of the Russian Federation, As Well As Expansion of the List of Issues of Local Significance of Municipal Formations

The amendments envisage expansion of authority of the bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation in the common sphere of reference financed at the expense of the resources of the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation (except for the subventions from the federal budget), as well as the fixing of the authority of the bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation in the common sphere of reference financed at the expense of the subventions from the federal budget to the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005 except for individual provisions where other periods of entry into force are specified.

Federal Law No. 198-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Amendments to Article 1 of the Federal Law on the Minimum Amount of Labour Remuneration

Introduces the new, higher minimum amounts of labour remuneration: Rbl 720 per month from January 1, 2005, Rbl 800 from September 1, 2005, Rbl 1,100 from May 1, 2006.

Introduced minimum amounts of labour remuneration are used exclusively to regulate the labour remuneration, as well as to determine the amounts of the temporary disability allowances.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Federal Law No. 197-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Amendments to Articles 38 and 41 of the Federal Law on the Insurance of the Deposits of Natural Persons in the Banks of the Russian Federation

Amendments to Article 38 bring its provisions in compliance with existing structure of the federal bodies of executive power and exclude the reference to the Federal Commission for Securities Market dissolved by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 314 of March 9, 2004 on the system and structure of the federal bodies of executive power.

Amendments to Article 41 bring its provisions in compliance with the requirements of the Budget Code of the Russian Federation. Article 41 envisages the right of the Government of the Russian Federation to grant interest-free budget loans to the Deposit Insurance Agency. However, Article 6 of the Budget Code of the Russian Federation states that budget loans are granted to the budgets of other levels. Therefore, the Law specifies that the Government of the Russian Federation may grant budget credits to the Deposit Insurance Agency to provide for the financial stability of the deposit insurance system.

Federal Law No. 196-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the State Registration of the Rights for Immovable Property and Transactions with It

Individual changes pertain to the state registration of encumbrances and restrictions. Restrictions (encumbrances) for the rights for immovable property emerging from a contact or act of the body of state power or act of the body of local government must be registered in cases envisaged in the legislation.

The State Register shall include information on disabilities or absence of abilities. A copy of the court decision having entered into legal force restricting the citizen's abilities or recognising his absence of abilities must be sent on the obligatory basis within three days by the judicial bodies to the body in charge of the state registration. The same time limit is specified for the bodies of trusteeship to send information on the family members of the owner of the given dwelling space in trusteeship living in it or the underage family members of the owner of the given dwelling space having found themselves without parental attendance.

The Law sets forth the provision stating that the bodies in charge of the state registration of rights may provide statistical information from the Register to any interested party for payment if the granting of such information is not in violation of the rights and legal interests of the holders of rights.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Federal Law No. 195-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Amendments to Article 236 of the Budget Code of the Russian Federation

According to the amendments, the rule prohibiting the placing of the budget resources on the bank deposits, transfer of budget resources in trust control does not apply to the subjects of the Russian Federation other than those getting grants from the Federal Fund of Financial Support of the Subjects of the Russian Federation to equalise the level of the budget security of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The procedure of placing of the budget resources on the bank deposits is defined by the bodies of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation. The bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation shall bear responsibility for the return of the resources to the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Federal Law No. 194-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Amendments to Article 446 of the Code of Civil Procedures of the Russian Federation

Specifies that the dwelling space (parts thereof) owned by the debtor citizen as property, as well as the land plots where this dwelling space (parts thereof) is located, may be vindicated under the writs of execution if they are being the object of the mortgage contract and are subject to vindication in compliance with the mortgage legislation.

Federal Law No. 193-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Mortgage Securities

The amendments introduce the notion of the "housing bond with the mortgage coverage" which is a bond with a mortgage coverage including only the claims rights secured with the dwelling space. The mortgage coverage of the mortgage-coverage bonds, except for the mortgage-coverage housing bonds, may include claims secured with immovable property still under construction.

The Law omits the provision stating that the claim under the mortgage-secured obligation included in the mortgage coverage must be confirmed with a deed of pledge with all attachments to it. However, if the deed of pledge was drawn up and handed out to confirm the claim included in the mortgage coverage under the mortgage-secured obligation, the deed of pledge alone is enough.

The Law introduces the new Article 16.1 pertaining to the implementation of the mortgage coverage of the bonds in cases of insolvency (bankruptcy) of the organisation issuing the mortgage-coverage bonds and 16.2 pertaining to the sale of the mortgage coverage in cases of issuer insolvency.

Federal Law No. 192-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Adoption of the Federal Law on the Mortgage Securities

Specifies the particulars of the procedure of satisfaction of the claims rights of the holders of mortgage securities in cases of bankruptcy of the credit organisation issuing mortgage-coverage bonds. The assets used to secure the mortgage bonds are not included in the bankruptcy assets.

The issue of the mortgage-coverage bonds are not covered by the rules specified in Article 102 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation stating that the company may issue the bonds for the amount not greater than the amount of the registered capital or the amount of the backing provided to the company for these purposes by third parties after the full payment of the registered capital.

The Law introduces additional reason for the revocation of the license for bank operations from the credit organisation: failure to execute by the credit organisation being a mortgage coverage manager of the requirements of the Law on the mortgage securities and adopted in pursuance of it normative legal acts, as well as the failure to eliminate the violations within specified time limits if the measures envisaged in the Federal Law on the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia) were applied to the credit organisation several times within one year.

The Law reduces the maximum time limit from one months to 14 days when the credit organisations must satisfy creditor claims under monetary obligations and/or execute the duty to transfer obligatory payments. In case of a failure to fulfil this rule, the Bank of Russia must revoke the license from the credit organisation.

The Law on the banks and bank activities is extended to include new Articles 23.2 "Credit Organisation Liquidator", 23.3 "Consequences of Adoption of the Decision of the Court of Arbitration on the Liquidation of the Credit Organisation" and 23.4. "Regulation of the Procedures of Liquidation of the Credit Organisation". The provisions of the mentioned Articles apply to credit organisations where the liquidation procedures as of the day of entry into force of the Federal Law are not available or not yet started.

Federal Law No. 191-FZ of December 29, 2004 on the Entry into Force of the City-Planning Code of the Russian Federation

The City-Planning Code of the Russian Federation is entered into force from the day of its official publication. The earlier endorsed city-planning documentation, including the general plans of urban and rural residential settlements, general plans of the cities of federal significance of Moscow and St.Petersburg, as well as adopted before the entry into force of the City-Planning Code of the Russian Federation rules of land use and city planning of urban and rural residential settlements, other municipal formations (city-planning charters of urban and rural residential settlements, other municipal formations) remain in force inasmuch as they do not contradict the City-Planning Code of the Russian Federation. The Law also envisages a stepwise entry into force of the requirements to the obligatory presence of the fundamental documents to be used as the basis for the city-planning activities in the Russian Federation.

The Land Code of the Russian Federation is extended to include Article 30.1 specifying the particulars of granting of land plots for the housing construction out of lands available in the state or municipal property and Article 30.2 specifying the particulars of granting of land plots for their complex use for the purposes of housing construction out of lands available in the state or municipal property. The Law introduces a number of other amendments.

The Law invalidates the City-Planning Code of the Russian Federation of 1998 except for its individual provisions to be invalidated from July 1, 2006.

City-Planning Code of the Russian Federation No. 190-FZ of December 29, 2004

The Code regulates legal relations in territorial planning, urban zoning, architectural design, relations in construction of the objects of capital construction, their reconstruction.

Defines the main notions, principles of legislation on the city-planning activities, authority of the bodies of state power of the Russian Federation, bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, bodies of local government in the sphere of city-planning activities. Individual chapters are dedicated to issues of territorial planning, urban zoning, architectural design, construction and reconstruction of objects of capital construction. Specifies the responsibility for the violation of the legislation on the city-planning activities, defines the particulars of the city-planning activities in the subjects of the Russian Federation - cities of federal significance of Moscow and St.Petersburg.

Federal Law No. 187-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation and the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation

The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is extended to include Article 322.1 "Organisation of Illegal Immigration". Organisation of illegal delivery to the Russian Federation of foreign citizens or stateless persons, their illegal stay in the Russian Federation or illegal transit shipments through the territory of the Russian Federation is punished with the fine in the amount of Rbl 200,000 or the amount of the earnings or other incomes of the convict for the period of 18 months, or obligatory works for up to 180 hours, or corrective labour for the period from 6 months to 1 year, or detention for up to 2 years. Specifies the responsibility for the same actions committed by an organised group, as well as for the purpose of criminal activities on the territory of the Russian Federation. Appropriate amendments are introduced in the Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation.

The Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation is extended to include Article 18.11 "Violation of Immigration Rules" specifying administrative responsibility for the avoidance on the part of the immigrants of immigration control, failure to present or untimely presentation of the specified documents and other.

The Federal Law is entered into force 30 days after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 186-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the General Principles of Organisation of Local Government in the Russian Federation

The amendments envisage an enhanced role of the subjects of the Russian Federation in the legal regulation of the organisation of local government. The amendments are aimed at improving the territorial fundamentals of the local government, optimisation of delimitation of issues of local significance among the residential settlements and municipal regions.

If there is a city or other residential settlements being municipal formations within the territory (within the boundaries) of the municipal formation (except for the region), the law of the subject of the Russian Federation shall take the decision to abandon them no later than March 1, 2005 or to exclude the territories of the residential settlements outside the city boundaries from the territory of the mentioned municipal formation. Intracity municipal formations are abandoned from January 1, 2006.

If the municipal formation consists of several cities not being municipal formations, each city, no later than March 1, 2005, is assigned the status of an urban settlement (city district), its boundaries are defined, and elections to the bodies of local government are arranged before November 1, 2005. The mentioned municipal formation shall be dissolved from January 1, 2006 by the law of the subject of the Russian Federation.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 185-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Amendments to the Family Code of the Russian Federation

The amendments are introduced in the procedure of finding and registration of children having found themselves without parental support. The children may be handed over for adoption to citizens of the Russian Federation permanently living abroad, foreign citizens or stateless persons not being their relatives 6 months (earlier, 3 months) after the day of receiving of information on such children in the state databank of information on children having found themselves without parental support.

The Law specifies that when taking the decision on the adoption of the child, the court may bypass the provisions stating that the persons without incomes providing for the living substance may not act as adoptive parents, as well as those with housing conditions failing to meet the sanitary and technical rules and norms. The given deviations are permitted only in the presence of deserving circumstances taking into account the interests of the adopted child.

Federal Law No. 184-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2005

Endorses the budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the year 2005 with incomes amounting to Rbl 1,177,375.0 million, Rbl 1,088,465.1 million out of which not connected to the obligatory financing of the accumulated part of the labour pensions, and expenses amounting to Rbl 1,176,131.3 million, Rbl 1,171,321.0 million out of which not being connected to the obligatory financing of the accumulated part of the labour pensions.

The Law envisages additional increase of the amount of the insured part of the labour pension from April 1, 2005 proceeding from estimated figure of 4.8%. However, the given increase will be implemented proceeding from the actual execution of the Fund budget for the year 2004.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Federal Law No. 183-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Forming of the Federal Treasury

The amendments are stipulated by the reorganisation of the Federal Treasury from January 1, 2005 into an independent federal service and the need to define for the newly created Federal Service of the Federal Treasury and the Federal Service of Financial and Budget Enforcement the functions and authority earlier vested in the Ministry of Finance of Russia. In this connection, the amendments are introduced in the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation, Laws on the financial fundamentals of the local government in the Russian Federation, on political parties and other.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Federal Law No. 182-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Amendments to the Budget Code of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Creation of the Federal Treasury

The amendments are stipulated by the reorganisation of the Federal Treasury from January 1, 2005 into an independent federal service and the need to define for the newly created Federal Service of the Federal Treasury and the Federal Service of Financial and Budget Enforcement the functions and authority earlier vested in the Ministry of Finance of Russia.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2005.

Federal Law No. 181-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on the Principles of Collection of Indirect Taxes for the Export and Import of Commodities, Carrying out Works, Rendering Services

Ratifies the Agreement signed in Astana on September 15, 2004 with the declaration defining the notion of commodities for the Russian Federation. The Agreement specifies that the zero VAT rate is applied for the export of commodities and/or exemption from excise duties (redemption of the paid amount) under the condition of the documentary confirmation of the fact of export. When importing commodities, indirect taxes are collected in the importer country, except for the commodities imported for processing followed by subsequent export of the products of processing, moved in transit shipments, as well as commodities exempted from taxation according to the legislation of the states of the parties.

Federal Law No. 180-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Ratification of the Treaty on Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan

Ratifies the Treaty signed in Tashkent on June 16, 2004. The Treaty envisages in particular that the parties shall grant to each other on the mutually beneficial basis maxim favourable conditions for participation in investment and privatisation projects on their territories.

Federal Law No. 179-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Ratification of the Protocol on the Amendments to the Agreement of October 9, 2000 between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Principles of Collection of Indirect Taxes in Mutual Trade

Ratifies the Protocol signed in Astana on September 15, 2004. According to the amendments, all imported commodities placed under the customs regime of export, in particular, natural gas, oil, including stable gas condensate, are subject to the indirect taxes using the zero rate. When imported, the mentioned commodities are subject to indirect taxes in the country of destination in compliance with the national legislation.

Federal Law No. 178-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Amendments to Article 6 of the Federal Law on the Particulars of the Functioning of the Electric Power Industry in the Transient Period and on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation and Invalidation of Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Adoption of the Federal Law on the Electric Power Industry

Legal entities and independent entrepreneurs are permitted to combine activities in the transfer of electric power and operative-and-supervisory control in electric power industry with activities in production and purchase-and-sale of electric power until April 1, 2006 (earlier, until January 1, 2005). After this date, it is not permitted to simultaneously possess on the proprietary basis or on other grounds the property directly used in the transfer of electric power and operative-and-supervisory control in electric power industry and the property directly used in production and purchase-and-sale of electric power.

The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 177-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Entry into Force of the Provisions of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and the Criminal Execution Code of the Russian Federation on the Punishment in the Form of Obligatory Works

Enters into force the provisions of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and the Criminal Execution Code of the Russian Federation on the punishment in the form of obligatory works.

Federal Law No. 176-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Ratification of the Treaty on the Cooperation of the Member-States of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Combating Terrorism

Ratifies the Treaty signed in Minsk on June 4, 1999 with a number of reservations. For servicemen and other persons forming anti-terrorist formations of the Russian Federation and participating in the anti-terrorist measures on the territories of the CIS member-states, legislation of the Russian Federation applies rather than the legislation of the accepting party. The Russian Federation may not be confined with provisions stating that the citizenship of the person accused of the act of terrorism is determined as of the moment of committing it.

Federal Law No. 175-FZ of December 28, 2004 on the Amendments to Articles 253 and 256 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

Differentiates the responsibility for the crimes envisaged in Articles 253 "Violation of the Legislation of the Russian Federation on the Continental Shelf and on the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Russian Federation" and 256 "Violation of the Rules of Protection and Use of Subsoil Resources" of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.