Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 20.06.2007

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1 of January 10, 2007 on the Compensation Packet of a Participants of the State Program of Assistance of Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad <br>

The state program of assistance of voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation of compatriots living abroad was adopted in 2006 to unite the potential of compatriots living abroad with the demands of development of Russian regions and compensate for natural loss of population in Russia.

The compensation packet is provided to a participant of the state program after registration before obtaining the citizenship of the Russian Federation. The subjects of the Russian Federation may introduce additional guarantees and measures of social support for participants of the state program and members of their families.

Decision of the Plenum of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 67 of December 20, 2006 on Some Issues of the Practice of Application of the Provisions of the Legislation on the Bankruptcy of Absent Debtors and Termination of Inoperable Legal Entities <br>

The procedure of exclusion of the inoperable legal entity from the Joint State Register of Legal Entities is a special reason of termination of the legal entity other than liquidation. Therefore, Item 4 of Article 61 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation requiring bankruptcy proceedings if the property of the debtor is not sufficient to satisfy creditor claims does not apply in the such cases. In this connection, exclusion of the legal entity from the Register at the decision of the body in charge of the registration is permitted also in cases when the mentioned person has debts in taxes, fees, penalties and sanctions to the budgets of various levels.

The issue of expediency of appealing to court to recognize the debtor bankrupt in the presence of chances to redeem the debts in obligatory payments forms the sphere of reference of the authorized bodies in charge of the bankruptcy cases.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAZ-3-09/826@ of December 1, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Documents Used for the Registration and Removal from Records of Russian Organizations and Natural Persons <br>

According to the amendments introduced in the Tax Code entering into force from January 1, 2007, the organization, when submitting an application for the registration at the place of location of its separate division, shall submit copies of certificates of its registration in the tax body at the place of location and the documents confirming the creation of the separate division. The tax body shall register a natural person on the basis of application of this natural person and issues a certificate or registration in the tax body to him.

The tax body must hand out to the organizations or the natural person notifications of the registration (notification of the removal from records) in the tax body. When registering a newly created organization or an independent entrepreneur, the tax body hands out to them certificates of registration.

The tax body must present the certificate of registration in the tax body and/or notification of the registration (removal from records) in the tax body to the organization or natural person registered at the place of location of their immovable property and/or transport vehicles, as well as to the notaries engaged in private practice and the lawyers registered at the place of residence.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 27, 2006. Reg. No. 8683.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1759-U of December 12, 2006 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 245-P of March 26, 2004 on the Procedure of Generation by Credit Organizations of Reserves for Possible Losses for Loans, Debts in Loans and Similar Debts

The amendments specify new approaches to the assessment and grouping of the portfolio of similar loans. Thus the credit organization must exclude from the portfolio of similar loans the one possessing the signs of devaluation (impaired financial standing of the borrower and/or quality of servicing of his debt under the loan). The mentioned loans are assessed (classified) on the individual basis. However, if the individual signs of devaluation are present in the loan not greater or equal to Rbl 1,000, the credit organization may abstain from excluding the mentioned loan from the portfolio of similar loans in the presence of individual signs of devaluation.

The loans granted to natural persons may be grouped depending on the length of overdue payments into one of portfolios of secured (mortgage and car credits) and other loans. Credit organization may combine loans without overdue payments and loans with overdue payments from 1 to 30 calendar days into one portfolio.

The loan granted to a natural person after July 1, 2007 may be included by the credit organization in the portfolio of similar loans only on condition of conveying to the borrower of information on the amount of efficient interest rate as of the moment of granting and/or the restructuring of the credit.

Assessment of the credit risk for the portfolio of similar loans is carried out by the credit organization on the permanent basis.

The Direction is entered into force from July 1, 2007.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 27, 2006. Reg. No. 8676.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 174-T of December 28, 2006 on the Return of Amounts of Reservation and the Special Accounts <br>

Since Article 16 of Federal Law on the currency regulation and currency control is invalidated from January 1, 2007, the earlier reserved amounts available on the accounts in the Bank of Russia shall be transferred on the first working day of 2007 by the divisions of the payment network from the account in the Bank of Russia to the correspondent accounts of authorized bank having transferred earlier the amounts of reservation for subsequent transfer to the bank accounts of clients having reserved these amounts.

Federal Lаw No. 4-FZ of January 10, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 27 of the Federal Lаw on the Procedure of Exit from the Russian Federation and Entry in the Russian Federation <br>

Refines the grounds to put the stamps of restriction of entry in the Russian Federation in the personal identification document of a foreign citizen or stateless person. The grounds of restriction of entry in the Russian Federation do not include now the failure to present a medical insurance policy valid in the Russian Federation, since the given restriction may occur for an insignificant period of time and is removed by presenting the policy. Two new reasons are introduced. These are, first, the presence of an outstanding conviction for a heavy or specially heavy crime with the foreign citizen or stateless person and, second, a decision on unwanted stay (living) in the Russian Federation taken for the foreign citizen or stateless person.

Letter of the Federal Treasury No. 42-7.1-15/2.4-517 of December 25, 2006 on the Results of Submission of the Budget Reports by Chief Administrators of Resources of the Federal Budget for the Year 2005 and 9 months of 2006 <br>

When drawing up the balance report of execution of the budget, the budget records should not register land plots granted for unlimited use which the budget-supported institution may not dispose of in compliance with the Land Code of the Russian Federation; securities forming the debts of the Russian Federation must be handed over to the administrator - the Ministry of Finance of Russia; cash residues are not envisaged in the cash department of the institution (its availability for making expenses in the first days of 2007 must be coordinated with the Ministry of Finance of Russia).

Analysis of reports of execution of the budget of the chief administrator (administrator), recipient of resources of the budget showed that not all administrators of incomes conclude agreements with departments of the Federal Treasury in the subjects of the Russian Federation, making it more difficult to verify the figures between the bodies of the Federal Treasury and administrators of receipts in the federal budget.

Report of execution of the budget for resources from entrepreneurial and other profitable activities of some chief administrators in Section 1 "Budget Incomes' contained information on incomes with the code of activities 1, i.e. incomes that must be registered as incomes of the federal budget. It is explained that Section 1 "Incomes' of the report must contain incomes of code 3 00 00000 00 0000 000 "Incomes from Entrepreneurial and Other Profitable Activities" (with a breakdown by the appropriate type of incomes) and of code 1 17 01010 01 0000 180 "Unidentified Receipts Transferred to the Federal Budget".

The Federal Treasury suggests examples of individual tables and forms of the explanatory note to the annual budget reports for the year 2006.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 876 of December 30, 2006 on the Rates of Payment for the Use of the Federally Owned Water Objects <br>

According to the new Water Code of the Russian Federation, the rates of payment for the use of water objects in the federal property, property of the subjects of the Russian Federation property of municipal formations, procedure of calculations and collection of such payment are specified respectively by the Government of the Russian Federation, bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, bodies of local government.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 844 of December 30, 2006 on the Procedure of Preparation and Adoption of the Decision to Grant the Water Object for Use <br>

Endorses the rules of preparation and adoption of the decision to grant the water object for use defining the bodies authorized to adopt appropriate decisions, requirements to the content of the application of the interested person and the list of attached documents, as well as the requirements to the content of the decision.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 839 of December 30, 2006 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Autocomponents Imported for Industrial Assembly and Pertaining to Component Parts and a Number of Raw Materials for Production of Aircraft Engines <br>

Some headings are excluded from the commodity nomenclature and new ones are included. The rates of the import customs duties are endorsed for 9 months.

The Decision is entered into force from January 2, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 807 of December 27, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Registers of State or Municipal Contracts Concluded upon Placing of Orders and on the Requirements to the Technological, Software, Linguistic, Legal and Organizational Means of Support of the Official Internet Site Used to Place the Mentioned Registers <br>

According to the actual procedure, the placing of orders for supplies of commodities, carrying out works, rendering services for the state and municipal needs is arranged on the contest basis. Information on the concluded contracts is placed in the registers maintained by the authorized federal body of executive power, bodies of executive power of the subject of the Russian Federation, bodies of local government. Information of the registers of contracts is placed in the Internet.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2007 and does not cover the registers containing information on the contracts comprising the state secret.

Federal Lаw No. 2-FZ of January 6,2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Lаw on the Amendments to the Federal Lаw on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation and on Invalidation of Individual Provisions of the Federal Lаw on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation <br>

Refines that the authority of the Government of the Russian Federation to fix the quotas to issue permissions for temporary residence on the territory of the Russian Federation covers all categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons regardless of whether they come to the Russian Federation with or without the visa. Earlier, the given permissions to foreign citizens having arrived to the Russian Federation according to the procedure that does not require a visa were to be issued regardless of the quota.

The category of persons that may get permissions for temporary residence on the territory of the Russian Federation regardless of the quotas, as well as not requiring permission for employment in the Russian Federation, include foreign citizens being participants of the state program of assistance of voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation for compatriots living abroad and members of their families moving to the Russian Federation together with them.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 856 of December 30, 2006 on the Currency Operations Carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation <br>

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is granted the right to carry out without restrictions all types of currency operations regulated under the Federal Lаw on the currency regulation and currency control.

Federal Constitutional Law No.7-FKZ of December 30,2006 on the Amendments to Articles 48 and 52 of the Federal Constitutional Law on the Referendum of the Russian Federation <br>

Non-commercial organizations may not transfer donations to the fund of the referendum of the Russian Federation if during the year preceding the transfer of the donation they received monetary resources or another property from foreign states (including their bodies of power), foreign citizens and legal entities (including charitable organizations and religions associations), international organizations and international public movements, Russian legal entities with foreign participation (more than 30%), as well as from organizations founded by the state bodies or bodies of local government of the Russian Federation and legal entities with the share of the Russian Federation, subjects of the Russian Federation or municipal formations in the registered capital greater than 30%. The mentioned restrictions apply only if the monetary recourses or another property received by the non-commercial organizations were not returned to the parties having transferred them (or handed over as incomes to the Russian Federati on if it is impossible to return them).

Federal Constitutional Law No. 6-FKZ of December 30, 2006 on the Forming of the New Subject of the Russian Federation As a Result of the Merger of the Irkutsk Province and the Ust-Ordynsk Buryat Autonomous District <br>

Forms a new subject of the Russian federation - the Irkutsk Province - as a result of the merger of the two bordering subjects of the Russian federation - the Irkutsk Province and the Ust-Ordynsk Buryat Autonomous District.

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

Federal law No. 283-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and Article 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation

Amends Articles 158 and 175 of the Criminal Code of Russian Federation ("Theft" "Purchase or Sale of the Property Known to Be Acquired Through Crime") to enhance responsibility for the pilferage of oil, oil products and gas from the mainlines. Extends the Criminal Code to include Article 215.3 envisaging liability for making the mainlines unfit for use.

Federal law No. 282-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Securities Market <br>

Introduces a new emission security - Russian depository slip, which is a registered security without nominal value. The Russian depository slip certifies the proprietary right for a certain number of stocks or bonds of a foreign issuer. The Federal Law is expected to satisfy the demand of the Russian investor pertaining to access to foreign market of capitals and improve the investment appeal and liquidity of the Russian securities market.

Federal Law No. 275-F of December 30, 2006 on the Procedure of Forming and Use of the Specific Capital of Non-Commercial Organizations <br>

The Federal Law specifies the legal basis of regulation of relations pertaining to the forming of the specific capital of non-commercial organizations, as well as the control over the forming of the specific capital and the use of incomes from such capital. The goal of the specific capital and the use of incomes from such capital is assistance in the sphere of education, science, public health, culture, arts, archive activities, physical culture and sports, social support.

The Law also defines the particulars of management of the non-commercial organization being the owner of the specific capital.

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

Federal Law No. 269-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Simplified Procedure of Declaring of Incomes by Natural Persons <br>

Introduces a simplified procedure of declaring of incomes obtained until January 1, 2006 by natural persons to attract capital in the national economy and promote trust in relations between the authorities and citizens.

Federal law No. 268-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Amendments to Parts 1 and 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation <br>

The amendments pertain to the procedure of submission of the tax declarations and revocation of individual tax benefits. From January 1, 2007, revokes the tax benefit exempting amounts from sale of securities from the payment of the incomes tax from natural persons.

Introduces an equal procedure of taxation of profits of organizations acquiring the right of use, possession and disposal of land plots and organizations concluding lease contracts for the land plots.

Federal law No. 267-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Currency Regulation and Currency Control <br>

Improves the issues of currency regulation in the payments in the sphere of international transportation.

Federal Law No. 254-FZ of December 29, 2006 on the Amendments to Article 5 of the Federal Law on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Licensing of Individual Types of Activities, Federal Law on the Protection of Rights of Legal Entities and Independent Entrepreneurs in the Course of State Control (Enforcement) and the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation <br>

Shifts from January 1, 2007 to July 1, 2007 the time limit for the entry into force of individual provisions of the Federal Law No. 80-FZ of July 2, 2005 pertaining to the procedure of suspension of licenses, revocation of licenses, as well as the license control for activities of investment funds, management of investment funds, shared investment funds and non-state pension funds, activities of specialized depositaries of investment funds, shared investment funds and non-state pension funds in pension support and pension insurance.

Federal Law No. 252-FZ of December 29, 2006 on the Invalidation of Individual Provisions of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation <br>

The date of revocation of licensing of audit activities is shifted from January 1, 2007 to July 1, 2007. The same dates apply to the licensing of activities in design and construction of buildings and structures and engineering surveys for construction of buildings and structures.

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

Federal law No. 248-FZ of December 29, 2006 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the State Regulation of Production and Circulation of Ethyl Alcohol, Alcoholic and Alcohol-Containing Products <br>

The Federal Law No. 102-FZ of July 21, 2005 envisaged a set of measures aimed at stopping illegal production and circulation of alcoholic substitutes, products of dual destination.

The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2007 except for individual provisions entering into force from July 1, 2007or from April 1, 2007.

Federal Law No. 247-FZ of December 29, 2006 on the Amendments to Articles 50.36 and 50.39 of the Federal Law on Insolvency (Bankruptcy) of Credit Organizations and Article 72 of the Federal Law on the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)<br>

The Federal Law eliminates restrictions in the sphere of legal qualification of individual types of borrowings and improves banking legislation to expand the sources of increase of capital of Russian banks.

Federal Law No. 246-FZ of December 29, 2006 on the Amendments to Articles 11 and 18 of the Federal Law on the Banks and Banking Activities and Article 61 of the Federal Law on the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)<br>

To attract foreign investments in the banking system of the Russian Federation and improve the quality of invested capital, abandons the requirement of obtaining a preliminary permission of the Bank of Russia by the credit organization to increase its registered capital at the expense of resources of non-residents and alienate its stocks (shares)in favor of non-residents, as well as for the participants of the credit organization to alienate their stocks (shares) in the credit organization in favor of non-residents. Also eliminates the right of the Bank of Russia to introduce additional requirements to credit organizations with foreign investments and branches of foreign banks pertaining to obligatory normatives and the minimum amount of capital of the newly registered branches of foreign banks.

Federal Lаw No. 244 of December 29, 2006 on the State Regulation of Activities of Organization of the Games of Chance and on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

The main novelty of the Law is creation of four special gambling zones permitting organization of the games of chance - the Altay Territory, the Maritime Territory, the Kaliningrad Province, the Krasnodar Territory and the Rostov Province.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 26 of January 11, 2007 on the Improvement of the State Regulation of the Import to the Russian Federation and Export from the Russian Federation of Precious Metals and Precious Stones

Export from the Russian Federation in the customs regime of export of natural diamonds (except for unique natural diamonds and natural diamonds of "bort" and "drilling" shapes regardless of their sizes and degree of processing, diamonds of mesh classes "-3+2" and lower), refined platinum and metals of the platinum group in the form of ingots, plates, powder and granules, as well as nuggets of precious stones, untreated precious metals, ores and concentrates of precious metals, raw materials containing precious metals, waste and scrap of precious metals is permitted without quantity restrictions on the basis of licenses issued by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 8 of January 15, 2007 on the Procedure of Paying out to Participants of the State Program of Assistance of Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad and Members of Their Families of the Monthly Allowance in the Absence of Incomes from Employment, Entrepreneurial and Other Activities

Participants of the state program of assistance of voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation of compatriots living abroad and members of their families moving jointly for permanent residence to the Russian Federation are entitled for a monthly allowance in the absence of incomes from employment, entrepreneurial and other activities not prohibited by the legislation of the Russian Federation in the period until they obtain the citizenship of the Russian Federation, however, not more than for six months.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 7 of January 15, 2007 on the Procedure of Paying out of the Lumpsum Allowance for Resettling to the Participants of the State Program of Assistance of Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad and Members of Their Families

Participants of the state program moving to category A territory are expected to get Rbl 60,000 and members of their families Rbl 20,000; participants of the state program moving to category B territory - Rbl 40,000 and members of their families Rbl 15,000.

The Decision is entered into force from the day of its official publication and applies to legal relations emerging from January 1, 2007.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 06-131/pz-n of November 21, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia No. 05-15/pz-n of April 20, 2005 on the Delimitation of Authority of the State Registration of Issues (Additional Issues) of Emission Securities between the Federal Service for Financial Markets and Its Territorial Bodies

According to the amendments, the Federal Service for Financial Markets will register the issues (additional issues) of emission securities placed through closed subscription, with the total volume of the nominal cost of each of them being greater than Rbl 200 million (earlier, Rbl 100 million), as well as emission securities of issuers with the amount of the registered capital as of the moment of endorsement of the decision on the issue (additional issue) of emission securities being Rbl 1 billion or greater (earlier, Rbl 500 million).

Territorial bodies of the Federal Service for Financial Markets will register issues (additional issues) of emission securities of issuers located on the territory covered by the appropriate territorial bodies of the Federal Service for Financial Markets.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 28, 2006. Reg. No. 8693.

Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 1243 of November 29, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 395 of March 30, 2004

From January 1, 2007 introduces new sets of blank forms of the customs declaration and the transit declaration endorsed by the Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 724 of August 3, 2006, as well as the new instruction on the procedure of filling of the cargo customs declaration and the transit declaration endorsed by the Order of the Federal Customs Service of Russia No. 762 of August 11, 2006.

Appropriate changes are introduced in the instruction on the customs operations carried out in the cases of declaring of commodities in the electronic form endorsed by the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 395 of March 30, 2004.

The Order is entered into force 90 days after the day of its official publication.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 10, 2007. Reg. No. 8725.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 363 of December 14, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation on the Execution by the Federal Registration Service of the State Function of Drawing up of the Apostille on the Official Documents for Bringing Them Abroad

Endorses the administrative regulation defining the time limits and sequence of actions (administrative procedures) for the Federal Registration Service, procedure of interaction between its structural divisions and officials, as well as interaction with other state bodies, bodies of local government and organizations when executing the state function of drawing up of the apostille on the official documents for bringing them abroad.

The Federal Registration Service shall draw up the apostille on the official documents issued by the federal bodies of executive power, natural persons and legal entities notary certified according to established procedure except for the cases envisaged in the legislation. The territorial bodies of the Federal Registration Service shall draw up the apostille on the official documents issues by the territorial bodies of the federal bodies of executive power, bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, notaries, bodies of local government issued in the subjects of the Russian Federation covered by the appropriate bodies of the Federal Registration Service except for the cases envisaged in the legislation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on December 29, 2006. Reg. No. 8718.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 300-P of December 25, 2006 on the Procedure of Administration by the Bank of Russia of Individual Types of Incomes Received in the Budget System of the Russian Federation

The Bank of Russia is the administrator of the following types of incomes received from credit organizations in the budget system of the Russian Federation: fines for the violation of the legislation on the banks and banking activities, currency legislation, legislation on export control, combating legalization (laundering ) of incomes obtained in a criminal way and financing of terrorism, legislation on the circulation of narcotic and psychotropic substances; state duty for the issue of licenses and certification, state registration of legal entities (liquidation), independent entrepreneurs, changes in the constituent documents, as well as the state registration of issues of emission securities.

The regulation 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 29, 2006. Reg. No. 8716.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 2-T of January 11, 2007 on the Rouble Equivalents of the Figures Specified in the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1755-U of December 11, 2006

The rouble equivalent of the minimum amount of the registered capital of the newly registered bank makes Rbl 173,124.5 thousand, and the newly registered non-bank credit organization - 10 times lower.

The rouble equivalent of the minimum amount of own resources (capital) of the bank (including the one requesting the general license) and non-bank credit organization requesting the status of a bank makes Rbl 173,124.5 thousand.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 13 of January 16, 2007 on the Interim Rates of Import Customs Duties for Individual Types of Chemical Commodities

Endorses for 9 months the rates of import customs duties for individual types of chemical commodities.

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 12 of January 16, 2007 on the Interim Rate of the Import Customs Duty for Tungsten Ores and Concentrates <br>

Introduces for 9 months the zero rate of the import customs duty for tungsten ores and concentrates (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 2611 00 000 0). At present, the rate of the import customs duty for the mentioned commodities makes EUR 5 per kg.

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 10 of January 15, 2007 on the Amount of Payment for the Services of Organizations of the Federal Postal Communication to Accept Notifications of Arrival of the Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person to the Place of Stay on the Territory of the Russian Federation <br>

The amount of payment for the services of organizations of the federal postal communication for accepting the notification of the arrival of the foreign citizen or stateless person to the place of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation delivered by registered mail makes Rbl 118.

The Decision applies to legal relations emerging from January 15, 2007.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1778-U of December 26, 2006 on the Signs of Solvency and the Rules of Exchange of Banknotes and Coins of the Bank of Russia <br>

Specifies the signs of solvency of banknotes and coins of the Bank of Russia, as well as the rules of exchange of the damaged banknotes and coins of the Bank of Russia.

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

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 16, 2007. Reg. No. 8748.

Order of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation No. 370 of December 25, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Application for the Permission for Employment to a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person and the Form of the Permission for Employment to a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person <br>

From January 15, 2007, there are new rules of issue of permissions for temporary employment on the territory of the Russian Federation for foreign citizens.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 15, 2007. Reg. No. 8736.

Order of the Federal Migration Service No. 369 of December 25, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Application for the Permission to Attract and Use Foreign Work Force to the Employer or the Party Ordering Works (Services) and the Form of the Permission to Attract and Use Foreign Work Force <br>

From January 15, 2007, there is a new procedure of issue of permissions for temporary employment of foreign work force in the Russian Federation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 15, 2007. Reg. No. 8735.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAE-3-09/861@ of December 13, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Forms of the Bank's Reports of the Opening (Closing) of the Account, of the Change of Account Details <br>

Item 1 of Article 86 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation introduced the duty of the banks to report the opening or closing of accounts, change of details of the account of the organization (independent entrepreneur) on paper or in the electronic form to the tax body at the place of location within five days from the day of the appropriate opening (closing) or change of details of such account.

The Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. SAE-3-24/441@ of July 27, 2004 is invalidated.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 15, 2007. Reg. No. 8730.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 17 of January 17, 2007 on the Interim Rates of Import Customs Duties for Individual Types of Meat of Bovine Animals and on the Amendment to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 732 of December 5, 2005

Introduces the rates of import customs duties for individual types of meat of bovine animals until December 31, 2007 in the amount of 30% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.3 per kg.

The limiting levels of the rates of export duties for 2007 for poultry meat and edible offal of Heading 0105 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature, fresh, chilled or frozen (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 0207), are increased to 60% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.48 per kg (earlier, 50%, however not less than EUR 0.4 per kg).

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 16 of January 17, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Export Customs Duties for Raw Oil and Individual Categories of Commodities of Oil Exported from the Territory of the Russian Federation Outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

From February 1, 2007 reduces the rates of export customs duties for raw oil and individual categories of commodities of oil. The rate of the export duty for raw oil is reduced by USD 1 to make USD 179.7 per ton.

Export from the Russian Federation of propane, butane, ethylene, propylene, butylenes, butadiene and other liquefied gasses, xylenes, light and medium distillates, gas oils, benzene, toluene will be subject to the rate of USD 133.4 per ton (at present, USD 134).

The rate of the export customs duty for liquid fuels, oils, spent oil products, petrolatum, oil coke, oil bitumen and other residues of processing of oil or oil products from bituminous materials (other than calcined oil coke) will make USD 71.8 (earlier, USD 72.2) per ton.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 15 of January 16, 2007 on the Licensing of Activities of Making Printed Items Protected against Forgery, Including Blank Securities, As Well As of Sale of the Mentioned Items

Endorses a new Regulation on the licensing of activities of making of printed items protected against forgery, including blank securities, as well as of sale of the mentioned items.

The licensing of the mentioned activities, as well as the sale of the mentioned items, is vested in the Federal Tax Service. As before, the period of validity of the license makes 5 years with the right of prolongation.

The Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 817 of November 11, 2002 on the endorsement of the Regulation on the licensing of activities of making printed items protected against forgery, including blank securities, as well as the sale of the mentioned items is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 25 of January 18, 2007 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Polyethyleneterephthalate

The amendments are stipulated by the merger of individual subheadings. Interim rates of import customs duties are introduced for the mentioned commodities in the amount of 5% of the customs cost for 9 months. Earlier the rates for polyethyleneterephthalate intended for application in pharmacy made 10%, other - 5% of the customs cost.

The Decision is entered into force 2 months after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 168n of December 8, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Directions on the Procedure of Application of the Budget Classification of the Russian Federation

The Directions are endorsed to provide for a uniform budget policy and drawing up and execution of budgets of all levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation in proper time. Specify new rules of application of the budget classification of the Russian Federation by participants of the budget process of all levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation. As before, a uniform 20-digit code of classification of incomes, expenses and sources of financing of deficits of the budgets of the Russian Federation is envisaged.

The Order invalidates the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 152n of December 21, 2005 on the endorsement of the Directions on the procedure of application of the budget classification of the Russian Federation an the Orders of the Ministry of Finance of Russia having amended it.

The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 18 of January 17, 2007 on the Licensing of Operation of Explosive Industrial Objects

Endorses a new Regulation on the licensing of operation of explosive industrial objects. The licensing is vested in the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement. The period of validity of the license for operation of explosive industrial objects remains the same - 5 years.

The previous procedure of licensing of activities of operation of explosive industrial objects endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 382 of June 4, 2002 is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 21 of January 17, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Submission of the Notification of Confirmation of the Residence in the Russian Federation by a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person

In the framework of the liberalisation of the migration legislation, foreign citizens (stateless persons) living in the Russian Federation were exempted from the duty to register on the annual basis. Instead, from January 15, 2007, they have to confirm annually their residence in the Russian Federation in the territorial body of the Federal Migration Service at the place of getting of the residence permission.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 24 of January 18, 2007 on the Interim Rates of Import Customs Duties for Tea and Individual Types of Raw Skins

Endorses for 9 months the zero rates of import customs duties for tea and individual types of untreated skins. The Decision is entered into force 1 month after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 169n of December 11, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Ledger of Incomes and Expenses of Independent Entrepreneurs Using the System of Taxation for Agricultural Producers (Uniform Agricultural Tax) and Its Filling Procedure

According to the new wording of the provisions of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation pertaining to the procedure of determination and acknowledgement of incomes and expenses for calculation of the taxable base for the uniform agricultural tax, independent entrepreneurs must keep the ledger of incomes and expenses of independent entrepreneurs using the system of taxation for agricultural producers (uniform agricultural tax).

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2007. Reg. No. 8778.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 179n of December 19, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 48n of March 23, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Estimate for Advance Payments for the Transport Tax and Its Filling Recommendations

Introduces a number of amendments in pursuance of the adoption of the Federal Law No. 137-FZ of July 27, 2006 having entered into force from January 1, 2007.

The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax estimate for advance payments for the transport tax for the first reporting period of 2007.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 19, 2007. Reg. No. 8798.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAE-3-06/829@ of December 5, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Sending of Requests to the Bank by the Tax Body of the Presence of Accounts in the Bank and/or Residues of Monetary Resources on the Accounts, for the Excerpts on Operations on the Accounts of Organisations (Independent Entrepreneurs, Private Notaries, Lawyers Having Founded Lawyer Offices) and the Forms of Appropriate Requests

In pursuance of the Federal Law No. 137-FZ of July 27, 2006 having entered into force from January 1, 2007, makes more specific the provision of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation pertaining to the duties of the banks in the sphere of registration of taxpayers.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2007. Reg. No. 8759.

Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 1300 of December 12, 2006 on the Fixed Amount of Security for the Customs Payments for Excisable Commodities

Introduces a new, fixed amount of the backing of customs payments for excisable commodities imported to the customs territory of the Russian Federation. The rates, in contrast to the previous ones, are endorsed in roubles rather than euros.
The Order of the Federal Customs Service of Russia No. 725 of August 11, 2005 on the fixed amount of security of customs payments for excisable commodities is invalidated.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2007. Reg. No. 8785.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 415 of December 19, 2006 on the Procedure of Distribution of the Quota for Import to the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation under the Customs Regime of Release for Internal Consumption of Electric Incandescent Lamps with the Power Rating Not Greater Than 200 W and Voltage over 100 v Except for the Ultraviolet and Infrared Lamps, Halogen Lamps with Tungsten Filament and Reflector Lamps Classified under Heading 8539 22 900 0 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia

To protect the interests of Russian producers of incandescent lamps, from February 3, 2006 introduces quotas for the import to the Russian Federation of electric incandescent lamps with the power rating not greater than 200 W and voltage over 100 v except for the ultraviolet and infrared lamps, halogen lamps with tungsten filament and reflector lamps classified under Heading 8539 22 900 0 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia in the amount of 136.7 million pieces a year. The quotas are introduced for 3 years.
The procedure of distribution of the quota for the import to the Russian Federation in 2006 of electric incandescent lamps with the power rating not greater than 200 W and voltage greater than 100 v endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia No. 50 of February 22, 2006 is invalidated.
Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2007. Reg. No. 8771.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 54 of January 18, 2007 on Some Issues of Military and Technical Cooperation of the Russian Federation with Foreign States

Introduces a new procedure for the Russian organisations for foreign trade activities pertaining to products of military destination. Earlier, the issue was regulated by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1062 of September 10, 2005.

The given activities are carried out through the state mediator - specialised federal state unitary enterprise founded at the Decision of the President of the Russian Federation. Organisations developing and making products of military destination meeting specified requirements and having obtained this right earlier shall carry out the given activities where it pertains to supplies of spare parts, units, instruments, component parts, special, teaching and auxiliary items, technical documentation to the earlier supplied products of military destination; works of certification, benchmarking, prolongation of service life, technical maintenance, repair (including modernisation other than requiring scientific research and design works), utilization and other works of complex servicing of the earlier supplied products of military destination; training foreign specialists to carry out the mentioned works. Other terms may be envisaged in the Decision of the President of the Russian Federation or international treaty of the Russian Federation.

Decisions to grant the right of foreign trade activities pertaining to products of military destination to organisations and to deprive of such right shall be taken by the President of the Russian Federation at the presentation of the Government of the Russian Federation.

The Decree regulates the procedure of termination of contract obligations for the organisations having obtained this right before the entry into force of the Decree.

The Decree envisages an obligatory allocation of resources in the amount of the difference between the price of the contract concluded by Rosoboronexport with a foreign client and the price of the contract of commission concluded between the mentioned enterprise and organisations developing and making products of military destination to finance promising developments of arms and military equipment and increase the volumes of issued products of military destination.

The Decree is entered into force from the day of singing.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 154n of November 27, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Accounting Regulation "Registration of Assets and Liabilities in Foreign Currencies" (PBU 3/2006)

Specifies the particulars of generation by legal entities (except for credit organisations and budget-supported institutions) in accounting work and accounting reports of information on assets and liabilities in foreign currencies (including those due for coverage in roubles).

The Order is entered into force beginning with accounting reports for the year 2007. The organisations must recalculate into roubles in accounting work as of January 1, 2007 the cost of resources in foreign currencies for payments (including the borrowings) with legal entities and natural persons to be covered in roubles according to the terms of contracts (regardless of the time of their conclusion). Underestimated or overestimated cost of the mentioned resources having emerged as a result of the recalculation are included in undistributed profit (uncovered loss).

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 17, 2007. Reg. No. 8788.

Order of the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Ministry of the Industry and Power Supplies of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 3086/311/170n of December 11, 2006 on the Amount of Payment for the Requested Information on the Compliance Certificates Available in the Joint Register of Issued Compliance Certificates

Specifies the amount of payment for the information available in the Joint Register of Issued Compliance Certificates provided to requests, making Rbl 26 for one compliance certificate.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 19, 2007. Reg. No. 8821.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 32 of January 22, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Licensing of Technical Maintenance of Medical Equipment (Except for the Case When the Mentioned Activities Are Carried out for Own Needs of the Legal Entity or Independent Entrepreneur)

Introduces a new Regulation on the licensing of technical maintenance of medical equipment (except for the case when the mentioned activities are carried out for own needs of the legal entity or independent entrepreneur) to replace the endorsed earlier Regulation No. 613 of August 16, 2002.

The licensing is vested in the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development. Earlier, the function was vested in the Ministry of the Industry, Science and Technologies of Russia.

The license is granted for 5 years. The period of validity may be prolonged according to the procedure envisaged for the redrawing of the license.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 33 of January 22, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Licensing of Production of Medical Equipment

Introduces a new procedure of licensing of production of medical equipment. The licensing applies to both industrial production of medical equipment and its individual manufacture.

The licensing is vested in the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development. According to the previous procedure, the licensing body was the Ministry of the Industry, Science and Technologies of the Russian Federation.

The pervious procedure of licensing of production of medical equipment endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 612 of August 16, 2002 is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 37 of January 22, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the State Expert Evaluation of Reserves of Mineral Deposits, Geological, Economic and Ecological Information on the Parts of Subsoil Reserves Granted for Use, on the Determination of the Amount and Procedure of Collection of Payment for It

The state expert evaluation of reserves of mineral deposits, as well as the geological, economic and ecological information on the parts of subsoil resources granted for use, is carried out for the purpose of rational use of subsoil resources, state registration of reserves of mineral deposits and parts of subsoil resources, assessment of correctness of information on the quality and quantity of investigated reserves of mineral deposits, determination of payment for the use of subsoil resources.

Federal Law No. 5-FZ of January 26, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 1062 of Part 2 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation

Creates legal conditions for transactions envisaging the duty of the side (sides) to pay depending on the change of prices for commodities and securities, currency rates, interest (values calculated proceeding from the multitude of the mentioned figures) or on the circumstances whether or not they occur.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 44 of January 24, 2007 on the Seasonal Duties for Individual Types of Vegetables Imported to the Territory of the Russian Federation

The rates of the seasonal duties for cabbage, carrots, beet (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 0704 90 100 1, 0706 10 000 1, 0706 90 900 1) imported to the territory of the Russian Federation are reduced from 15% to 5% of their custom cost until May 31, 2007.

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 42 of January 23, 2007 on the Amendments to Some of the Decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation

Introduces appropriate amendments to the procedure of issue of permissions for temporary stay and residence permits to foreign citizens pursuant to the separation of the Federal Migration Service from the bodies of internal affairs. The mentioned documents will be issued by the Federal Migration Service of Russia instead of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 41 of January 23, 2007 on the Interim Rates of Import Customs Duties for Individual Types of Nuts and Seeds

Endorses for 9 months the zero rates of import customs duties for individual types of nuts and seeds. The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Information of the Department of External and Public Relations of the Central Bank of Russia of January 26, 2007

From January 29, 2007, the rate of refinancing of the Bank of Russia is fixed in the amount of 10.5% annual.

Federal Constitutional Law No. 1-FKZ of January 30, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 7 and 9 of the Federal Constitutional Law on the Government of the Russian Federation <br>

Introduces a prohibition to assign to the position of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation the persons that have foreign citizenship, residence permit or another document confirming the right of permanent residence of the citizen of the Russian Federation on the territory of a foreign state.

      A similar prohibition is introduced for the positions of the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation and the federal ministers.

      The mentioned amendments are intended to provide for the security of the country and are stipulated by the special status of the members of the Government of the Russian Federation.

      The restriction has been introduced earlier for the members of the Council of the Federation, deputies of the State Duma, members of the Security Council, auditors of the Audit Chamber and a number of other positions.

Federal Law No. 6-FZ of January 30, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 21 of the Federal Law on the Main Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in the Referendum of Citizens of the Russian Federation <br>

Excludes the requirement of obligatory presence with the member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation of the higher legal education or a scientific degree in the sphere of law.

Federal Law No. 7-FZ of January 30, 2007 on the Renaming of the City of Krasnogvardeyskoy of the Krasnogvardeyskoy Region, Belgorod Province, into the City of Biryuch <br>

The city of Krasnogvardeyskoy regains its historical name of Biryuch founded in 1705 through the decree of Peter the Great.

Federal Law No. 8-FZ of January 30, 2007 on the Invalidation of Individual Provisions of Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation <br>

Invalidates individual provisions of the Federal Law on the status of the member of Council of the Federation and the status of the deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation having specified that transport vehicles of the members of the Council of the Federation and the deputies of the State Duma were to be outfitted with special state registration plates.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1789-U of January 26, 2007 <br>

From January 29, 2007, the interest rate for the overnight credit is fixed in the amount of 10.5% annual.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1790-U of January 26, 2007 on the Partial Invalidation of the Provision of the Bank of Russia No. 437 of April 23, 1997 on the Particulars of Registration of Credit Organisations with Foreign Investments and on the Procedure for the Registered Credit Organisation to Obtain a Preliminary Permission of the Bank of Russia to Increase the Registered Capital at the Expense of Resources of Non-Residents <br>

In the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 437 of April 23, 1997, omits all provisions specifying the procedure of obtaining a preliminary permission of the Bank of Russia to increase the registered capital of the registered credit organisation at the expense of resources of non-residents. Also omits the provision specifying that the minimum amount of the registered capital of the created affiliated credit organisation of a foreign bank is determined by the normative acts of the Bank of Russia.
The Direction is entered into force from the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 8-T of January 29, 2007 on the Inclusion of Securities in the Lombard List of the Bank of Russia <br>

The list of securities forming the Lombard List of the Bank of Russia shall include the bonds of the Republic of Bashkortostan with the state registration number of issue RU25005BAS0 and the bonds of the Republic of Komi of the years of 2004 and 2005 with the state registration numbers of issues RU35007KOM0 and RU35008KOM0.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 50 of January 26, 2007 on the Amendment to and Invalidation of Some of the Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation on the State Duty

In pursuance of the Federal Law on the licensing of individual types of activities, the processing by the licensing body of applications for licenses and the issue of licenses requires collection of the state duty in the amounts and according to the procedure specified in the legislation on taxes and fees.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 49 of January 19, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Warning on the Consumer Containers of Alcoholic Products Describing Contraindications of Use of Alcoholic Products

From February 1, 2007, consumer containers of each unit of alcoholic products must carry a warning of the hazard of use of alcoholic products for the human health of the following content: "Alcohol Is Contraindicated for Children under 18, Expecting and Nursing Mothers, Persons Suffering from Diseases of the Central Nervous System, Kidneys, Liver and Other Digestive Organs".

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 286 of December 15, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Procedure for Entry of Mineral Resources on the State Balance and Writing off from the State Balance

The state balance records of reserves of mineral resources is arranged for the purpose of registration of the condition of the mineral resources and raw materials base. The balance records shall contain information on the quantity, quality and degree of investigation of reserves of each type of mineral resources by deposits of industrial significance, their location, industrial development, extraction, losses and industry supplies.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 26, 2007. Reg. No. 8857.

Order of the Ministry of the Industry and Power Supplies of the Russian Federation No. 414 of December 21, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Resources Certificate

To provide for control of liquefied hydrocarbon gases exported from the Russian Federation (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 2711 12 110 - 2711 19 000, 2901 10 100 0 and 2901 10 900 0), endorses a new form of the resources certificate. The certificates are presented by the oil and oil-and-gas processing organisations to the customs bodies to draw up supplies of liquefied gases for export.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 19, 2007. Reg. No. 8802.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 113 of January 31, 2007 on the Increase of the Salaries for the Occupied Position to the Judges of the Russian Federation

To provide material guarantees to judges for a full and independent implementation of justice, increases from January 1, 2007 1.075 times salaries for the occupied position to the judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and other federal judges of general jurisdiction, Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation and other federal arbitration courts, as well as the justices of the peace of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 51 of January 29, 2007 on the Experiment of Mortgage Crediting of Participants of the Accumulated Mortgage System of Housing Support of Servicemen

To carry out an experiment of mortgage crediting of participants of the accumulated mortgage system of housing support for servicemen, endorses the rules of granting of targeted housing loans, the typical contract of the targeted housing loan, the rules of drawing up the mortgage.

Letter of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being No. 0100/820-07-23 of January 30, 2007 on the Execution of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 770 of December 15, 2006

In pursuance of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 770 of December 15, 2006, introduces amendments to the rules of sale of individual types of commodities stating that from February 1, 2007 retail sale of alcoholic products is not permitted if consumer containers do not have a warning of the hazard of excessive use of alcoholic products for the human health, as well as information on contraindications of their use, the content being specified by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 63 of February 1, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Placing of Resources of Pension Reserves of Non-State Pension Funds and Control over Their Placing

Instead of the rules endorsed earlier by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1432 of December 23, 1999, introduces new rules specifying the procedure of placing of resources of pension reserves of non-state pension funds and control over their placing, as well as the requirements to the composition and structure of pension reserves of the funds.

Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 92-r of January 29, 2007

According to the actual legislation, the Bank of Russia may participate in the registered capital of the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation. Reduction or alienation of the shares of participation of the Bank of Russia in the registered capital of the Savings Bank on condition that it does not reduce any of the mentioned shares of participation to lower than 50% plus one voting stock is permitted to the Bank of Russia upon coordination with the Government of the Russian Federation.
      The Government of the Russian Federation agreed to the reduction of the share of participation of the Bank of Russia in the registered capital of the Savings Bank of Russia not lower than 55.34% in the course of the additional issue of ordinary stocks of the Savings Bank of Russia.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 119 of February 5, 2007 on the Federal Agency for Supplies of Arms, Military, Special Equipment and Material Resources

A new federal body of executive power is created under the auspices of the Government of the Russian Federation - the Federal Agency for Supplies of Arms, Military, Special Equipment and Material Resources.
      The Agency will implement the functions of the state ordering party for placing the orders, concluding, covering, control of execution of contracts under the state defence order over all nomenclature of arms, military, special equipment and material resources except for the special equipment of the nomenclature defined by the heads of the federal bodies of executive power being the state ordering parties for the state defence order.
      The Agency will carry out works in the interests of the Ministry of Defence of Russia, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Ministry of Emergency Situations Order Russia, Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation, Federal Security Service of Russia, Federal Guards Service of the Russian Federation, Federal Service of the Russian Federation for Control of Circulation of Narcotics, Federal Service of Execution of Punishments.
      The Decree is entered into force from the day of its signing.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 117n of December 19, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 8n of January 17, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Uniform Imputed Income Tax for Individual Types of Activities and Its Filling Procedure

From January 1, 2007, changes the procedure of submission and amending the tax declaration. In this connection, introduces appropriate adjustments to the procedure of filling of the tax declaration for the uniform imputed income tax for individual types of activities.
      The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax declaration for the uniform imputed income tax for individual types of activities for the first tax period of 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 31, 2007. Reg. No. 8869.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 180n of December 19, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 65n of April 13, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Transport Tax and Its Filling Procedure

Pursuant to the changing from January 1, 2007 of the procedure of submission of the tax declaration, introduces appropriate adjustments to the procedure of filling of the declaration for the transport tax.
      The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax declaration for the transport tax for the year 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 31, 2007. Reg. No. 8868.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 178n of December 19, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 50n of March 28, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Uniform Agricultural Tax and Its Filling Procedure

The form and the filling procedure for the tax declaration for the uniform agricultural tax are being brought in compliance with the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.
      The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax declaration for the uniform agricultural tax for the first reporting period of 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on January 31, 2007. Reg. No. 8861.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 9 of January 15, 2007 on the Procedure for Keeping Migration Records of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Russian Federation

Endorses the rules of keeping of migration records of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Russian Federation regulating the procedure of registration of the mentioned persons at the place of residence (removal from records), as well as the procedure of registration at the place of stay and removal from records.
      The Decision is entered not force from the date of its official publication.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1783-U of December 27, 2006 on the Invalidation of Subitem 2.21 of Item 2 of Appendix 1 to the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1317-U of August 7, 2003 on the Procedure for the Authorised Banks to Establish Correspondent Relations with Non-Resident Banks Registered in the States and on the Territories Providing a Beneficial Tax Regime That Do Not Disclose and Provide Information on the Carried out Financial Operations (Off-Shore Zones)

The list of the states and territories housing off-shore zones now does not include the Republic of Panama earlier included in risk group 2 of off-shore zones. When establishing corresponded relations with non-resident banks registered in group 2 off-shore zones, one of the following conditions must be observed on the obligatory basis: the non-resident bank must have own resources (capital) in the amount of at least EUR 100 million equivalent and present reports and documents confirming its fair activities; have a high rating of long-term creditworthiness according to the leading rating companies.
      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 January 26, 2007. Reg. No. 8846.

Federal Constitutional Law No. 2-FKZ of February 5, 2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Constitutional Law on the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation

The place of permanent stay of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation now becomes St.Petersburg instead of Moscow. A representation of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation will be created in Moscow.
      The Federal Constitutional Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication except for individual provisions where another time limit for entry into force is specified.

Federal Law No. 13-FZ of February 5, 2007 on the Particulars of Management and Disposal of the Property and Stocks of Organisations Engaged in Activities of Use of Nuclear Power and on the Amendments to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

The Federal Law provides for legal regulation of particulars of relations emerging in the course of management and disposal (including privatisation) of the property and stocks of organisations of the nuclear power supply complex of the Russian Federation. The Law envisages opportunities of placing nuclear plants, nuclear materials and points of their storage both in the federal property and the property of legal entities.

Federal Law No. 12-FZ of February 5, 2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Fundamentals of Tourist Activities in the Russian Federation

Changes the methods of state interference in the tourist business to provide for financial protection of the rights and legal interest of consumers of tourist services whenever the licensing of tourist agency and tourist operator activities is terminated from January 1, 2007.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from June 1, 2007 except for the provisions on the amount of financial security to be entered into force from June 1, 2008. Before this moment, the amount of financial backing for the sphere of international tourism must make Rbl 5 million, Rbl 500,000 for internal tourism and Rbl 5 million for both the internal and international tourism.

Federal Law No. 11-FZ of February 5, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 16 of the Federal Law on the Circulation of Lands of Agricultural Destination

The time limit for the redrawing of lease contracts for the land portions concluded before January 27, 2003 is prolonged till January 27, 2009 (the previous time limit expired on January 27, 2007).

Federal Law No. 10-FZ of February 5, 2007 on the Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on the Institutions and Bodies Executing Criminal Punishments in the Form of Imprisonment and to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

Territorial bodies of the criminal execution system are authorised to define in coordination with the bodies of local government of municipal regions or the bodies of local government of urban districts the boundaries of territories adjacent to the subordinate institutions where the Ministry of Justice of Russia introduces regime requirements in coordination with the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation.
      Some provisions of the Law are adjusted pursuant to the handing over of educational institutions of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation training specialists of the criminal execution system to the Federal Service of Execution of Punishments.
      To bring the Law on the detention of suspects and the accused in compliance with the norms of international law, abandons the prohibition to use books, newspapers, magazines and other literature when incarcerated.

Federal Law No. 9-FZ of February 5, 2007 on the Invalidation of Paragraph 6 of Item 2 of Part 2 of Article 33 of the Federal Law on the Detention of Suspects and the Accused

Abandons a separate detention of suspects and the accused for foreign citizens (stateless persons) and the citizens of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 65 of February 3, 2007 on the Amounts of the State Duty for the Actions Committed by the Authorised State Institutions in the Course of the Federal Assay Enforcement

The federal assay enforcement is arranged for the purpose of protection of the rights of consumers of jewellery and other household items of precious metals and precious stones, the rights of producers of such items against unfair competition, as well as the protection of interests of the state.
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 75 of February 5, 2007 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 795 of December 23, 2006 Pertaining to Individual Types of Unprocessed Timber

Amends the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 795 of December 23, 2006 having endorsed the rates of the export customs duties for commodities exported from the territory of the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements. By 2011, the mentioned rates will increase several times.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 185n of December 29, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Declaration for the Tax on Extraction of Mineral Resources and Its Filling Procedure

Pursuant to the changing from January 1, 2007 of the procedure of submission of the tax declaration, procedure of determination of the taxable base, as well as calculation and payment of the tax on extraction of the mineral resources, appropriate corrections are introduced in the procedure of filling of the declaration for extraction of mineral resources.
      The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax declaration for January 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 5, 2007. Reg. No. 8901.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 06-148/pz-n of December 14, 2006 on the Amendment to the Regulation on the Information Disclosed by Issuers of Emission Securities Endorsed by the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia No. 06-117/pz-n of October 10, 2006

Envisages opportunities of simultaneous registration of the prospectus of securities and the state registration of additional issue of securities. Specifies that prospectus of securities applies to all securities of such additional issue, as well as all securities of the issue where the additional issue pertains.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 5, 2007. Reg. No. 8897.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 176n of December 19, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 7n of January 17, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Cases of Simplified System of Taxation and Its Filling Procedure

Pursuant to the changing from January 1, 2007 of the procedure of submission of the tax declaration, appropriate corrections are introduced in the form of the tax declaration for the cases of simplified system of taxation and its filling procedure
      The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax declaration for the first reporting period of 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 5, 2007. Reg. No. 8893.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 80 of February 7, 2007 on the Procedure of Submission by the Bodies and Agents of Currency Control to the Body of Currency Control Authorised by the Government of the Russian Federation of Documents and Information Necessary for Its Functions

According to the actual legislation in the sphere of currency regulation, the Federal Service of Financial and Budget Enforcement is empowered with the functions of the body of currency control. Other bodies and agents of currency control must submit to the Federal Service of Financial and Budget Enforcement the documents and information necessary for implementation of its functions. Other bodies and agents of currency control include the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the Federal Tax Service of Russia, Federal Customs Service of Russia, authorised banks, professional participants of the securities market (including recorders subordinate to the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia).

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 54 of January 29, 2007 on the Federal Targeted Program "National Technologic Base" for the Years 2007-2011

To overcome Russia's technological lagging behind the leading world countries and improve the competitive potential of domestic science intensive industries, endorses the federal targeted program "National Technological Base" for the years 2007-2011.
      The goal of the program is providing for technological development of the domestic industry on the basis of creation and introduction of new break-through, resource-conserving, ecologically safe industrial technologies for production of competitive science-intensive products. The final product of the program is industrial technologies intended for application in commercial projects associated with production of a particular innovative product.
      The functions of the state ordering party coordinating the program are vested in the Ministry of the Industry and Power Supplies of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 85 of February 8, 2007 on the Seasonal Duties for Rice and Mill and Grain from It Imported to the Territory of the Russian Federation

Introduces seasonal duties for the import to the Russian Federation of rise and mills and grain from it (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 1006, 1103 19 500 0, 1103 20 500 0, 1104 19 910 0, 1108 19 100 0) until May 31 and from October 1 to December 31, 2007. The rate of the import seasonal duty for the mentioned commodities will make EUR 0.12 per kg (at present, the rate of the import customs duty makes EUR 0.07 per kg).
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 84 of February 8, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rate of the Export Customs Duty for Rape Seeds or Colza, Whether or Not Ground, Exported Outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

The rate of the export duty for rape seeds or colza, whether or not ground (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 1205), for the cases of export from the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements is fixed in the amount of 15% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 30 per 1,000 kg.
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 1n of January 9, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 24n of February 7, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Profit Tax from Organisations and Its Filling Procedure

The form of the tax declaration for the profit tax from organisations and its filling procedure is amended in pursuance of the changes to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, in particular, the Federal Laws No. 268-FZ of December 30, 2006 and No. 137-FZ of July 27, 2006. The mentioned amendments pertain to the procedure of submission of the tax declarations (including submission of refined information), procedure of amending them by the taxpayer (tax agent) when errors are revealed.
      The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax declaration for the first reporting period of 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 9, 2007. Reg. No. 8924.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 2-P of February 5, 2007 on the Case of Constitutionality of Provisions of Articles 16, 20, 112, 336, 376, 377, 380, 381, 382, 383, 387, 388 and 389 of the Code of Civil Procedures of the Russian Federation in Pursuance of the Request of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Tatarstan, Appeals of Open-Type Joint-Stock Companies of Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Khakasenergo, As Well As Appeals of a Number of Citizens

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised that individual norms of the Code of Civil Procedures of the Russian Federation specifying enforcement proceedings do not contradict the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The Decision was stipulated by the appeal challenging the institute of enforcement proceedings and the constitutionality of particular norms of the Code of Civil Procedures of the Russian Federation introducing, in particular, opportunities of revision of court ruling having entered in legal force not restricted by specific time limits, as well as the right of the Chairman of the Supreme Court and his deputies to evoke at their initiative the cases where the rulings have entered in legal force and hand them over for processing in the court of enforcement instance.

Federal Law No. 19-FZ of February 9, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 4.5 of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation

The period of limitation for the cases of administrative liability for the violation of the legislation in the sphere of state regulation of prices (tariff rates) is increased to 1 year.

Federal Law No. 18-FZ of February 9, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 29 and 38 of the Federal Law on Advertising

Refines the provisions of the Federal Law on advertising pertaining to securities. In particular, prohibits advertising of exchange-traded bonds before the date of their release for tenders by the stock exchange.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 16-FZ of February 9, 2007 on the Transport Security

Creates legal fundamentals for a stable and secure functioning of the transport complex, protection of interests of the person, society and the state in the transport sphere against acts of illegal interference, including the ones of terrorist nature.
      The Federal Law is entered into force 180 days after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 14-FZ of February 9, 2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on Communication

Defines the mechanism of registration of telecommunication networks and expert evaluation of the system-level communication network project.
      The Federal Law is entered into force 180 days after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 83 of February 8, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Federal Antimonopoly Service

According to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 94 of February 20, 2006, the Federal Antimonopoly Service is an authorised federal body of executive power in charge of control in the sphere of placing of orders for supplies of commodities, carrying out works, rendering services for the federal state needs, except for the state defence order vested in the Federal Service for the Defence Order. The amendments are introduced to reinforce and make more detailed the given authority.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 06-147/pz-n of December 14, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Assigning Identification Numbers to Issues (Additional Issues) of Emission Securities Not Requiring State Registration

In pursuance of the Federal Law No. 138-FZ of July 27, 2006, introduces a new type of short-term financial instruments - exchange-traded bond that does not provide to its holder any other rights than the one to get the nominal cost and the fixed interest for the given cost. A simplified procedure of issue is specified for such bonds - without the state registration of issue and the report of results of issue, as well as without the registration of the prospectus of the bonds.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 8, 2007. Reg. No. 8917.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 06-155/pz-n of December 26, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Estimation of the Market Cost of Assets and the Cost of Net Assets Used to Invest Resources of Accumulated Pensions

The management company engaged in activities of management of resources of accumulated pensions intended for financing of the accumulated part of the labour pension must calculate on the regular basis the current market cost and the cost of net assets in trust control.
      The Order is entered into force from April 1, 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 8, 2007. Reg. No. 8916.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 06-154/pz-n of December 21, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Registration of the Rules of Trust Control of the Shared Investment Funds and Amendments to Them

The management company may offer a contract of trust control of the shared investment fund only on condition of registration by the federal body of executive power in charge of the securities market of the rules of trust control of this shared investment fund. Amendments to the rules of trust control of the shared investment fund shall enter into force also if registered.
      Decisions of the Federal Service for Financial Markets having defined earlier the procedure of registration of the rules of trust control of the shared investment fund, amendments to the rules, shall not apply from the date of entry into force of the Order having endorsed the Regulation.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 8, 2007. Reg. No. 8915.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 91 of February 9, 2007 on the Procedure of Determination of the Average Monthly Income of a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person and the Average Per Capita Income of the Family Member of a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person

The average monthly income is determined to establish its compliance with the cost of living specified in the law of the subject of the Russian Federation where the foreign citizen has residence permission.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 02-14-07/274 of February 8, 2007

Provides for the reassessment of fixed assets and non-material assets of budget-supported institutions as of January 1, 2007 to register their real cost in accounting work, including those available in the federal property abroad.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 11-T of February 7, 2007 on the List of Items for the Credit Organisations to Assess the Condition of Corporate Management

Provides a sample list of questions than may be used by credit organisations to assess the condition of corporate management. Assessment of the condition of corporate management is recommended for the credit organisations to be carried out at least once a year by the board of directors (supervising board).

Decision of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 12547/06 of January 16, 2007

The Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation confirmed correctness of conclusions of the lower instance court having terminated proceedings in the case invalidating the Letters of the Ministry of Finance of Russia No. 01-02-01/03-1625 of August 5, 2004 and No. 03-06-01-02/09 of March 3, 2006.

Decision of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 11723/06 of December 19, 2006

The Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation revoked the court ruling on the case having challenged individual provisions of the Letter of the Federal Tax Service of Russia. The mentioned provisions contained explanations, in particular, that if the wrong VAT rate was indicated in the invoice, such invoice may not serve as grounds to accept VAT amounts for exemption.

Decision of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 7619/06 of December 19, 2006

The essence of the dispute is whether the tax body may call to account the bank having indicated a wrong code of the budget classification while executing the payment order to transfer tax payments, which resulted in a delay of transfer of appropriate monetary resources to the budget after correcting the error.

Decision of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 2 of January 12, on the Endorsement of the Forms of the Request and the Report of the Use of Resources of the Monthly Child-Care Allowance to Persons Actually Taking Care of the Child and Not Covered by the Obligatory Social Insurance under the Federal Law on the State Allowances to Citizens with Children

In pursuance of the Federal Law on the state allowances to citizens with children, the state allowances are paid out also at the expense of resources of the federal budget allocated to the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation for the monthly child-care allowances to persons actually taking care of children that are not covered by the obligatory social insurance.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 50 of January 19, 2007 on the Procedure and Terms of Spending of Resources Pertaining to the Payment to the State and Municipal Public Health Institutions (in Their Absence, Medical Organisations Where the State and/or Municipal Order Is Placed in Compliance with the Legislation of the Russian Federation) for the Services of Medical Aid Rendered to Women During Pregnancy, Delivery and Afterwards, As Well As Dispensary Care of the Child During the First Year of Life

Specifies the procedure of spending of resources transferred in 2007 by the regional divisions of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation to the state and municipal public health institutions (in their absence, medial organisations where the state and/or municipal order is placed) to pay for the services of medical aid rendered to women during pregnancy, delivery and afterwards, as well as the dispensary care of the child during the first year of life.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 14, 2007. Reg. No. 8943.

Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 1105 of December 28, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation of the Federal Migration Service on the Rendering of the State Service of Issue, Replacement and Execution of the State Function of Registration of the Passports of the Citizens of the Russian Federation to Identify the Citizens of the Russian Federation on the Territory of the Russian Federation

The issue, replacement and registration of the passports are vested in the Federal Migration Service of Russia, its territorial bodies and structural divisions.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 8, 2007. Reg. No. 8910.

Federal Law No. 20-FZ of February 14, 2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Foreign Intelligence Service

The particulars of the military service and monetary subsistence, procedure of conclusion and the content of the contracts with servicemen of the bodies of the Foreign Intelligence Service, as well as the proprietary liabilities of the parties, besides the federal laws may also be specified in the agency normative acts. The same innovations pertain to the civilian personnel of the bodies of the Foreign Intelligence Service.
      The failure to comply with the requirements may serve as grounds to refuse admission to the bodies of the Foreign Intelligence Service or discontinue the contract.
      An obligatory dactylographic procedure is envisaged for the personnel of the bodies of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 94 of February 14, 2007 on the State Information System of Migration Registration

Creates the state information system of migration records, which is an interagency automatic system generated on the basis of the centralised databank of registration of foreign citizens, as well as automatic registers of the reference address divisions of the Federal Migration Service of Russia and other information systems.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 93 of February 14, 2007 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Polycarbonates

Introduces the zero rate of the import customs duties (for 9 months) for the polycarbonates with the yielding figure at least 9.0g/10 min, however, not more than 15 g/10 min at 250°C and 1.2 kg load or at least 55 g/10 min, however, not more than 70 g/10 min at 300°C and 1.2 kg load for making optical data media. For other polycarbonates, the rate is fixed in the amount of 10% of the customs cost.
      The Decision is entered into force 2 months after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 1341 of December 20, 2006 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 829 of November 30, 1999

To bring the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation in compliance with international requirements from January 1, 2007, changes the codes for individual types of commodities, including the electronic and complicated equipment.
      The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 12, 2007. Reg. No. 8934.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-07/2 of February 6, 2007

For profit taxation purposes, there are four reasons to recognise the receivables as desperate for collection:
      " the debts with expired period of limitation; " the debts where the liabilities are terminated in compliance with the civil legislation because of impossibility of execution; " the debts where the liabilities are terminated in compliance with the civil legislation on the basis of the act of the state body; " the debts where the liabilities are terminated in compliance with the civil legislation because of the liquidation of the organisation.
      Other reasons making collection impossible may not recognise the receivables as desperate for profit taxation purposes.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-11-05/2 of February 7, 2007

When selling according to the wholesale procedure in 2007 the residues of commodities purchased for retail trade subject to the uniform imputed income tax for individual types of activities, the taxpayer may register expenses of purchase of the mentioned commodities in the determination of the taxable base for the tax paid out in cases of application of the simplified system of taxation.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-06/1/71 of February 8, 2007

Taxpayers being city-forming organisations in compliance with the legislation of the Russian Federation and incorporating structural divisions operating objects of the housing fund, as well as the objects of the housing and communal complex and the objects of the social and cultural sphere, may accept for taxation purposes the actually suffered expenses of maintenance of the mentioned objects.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-07-07/04 of February 9, 2007

If the organisation does not abandon from January 1, 2006 exemptions from the value added tax for the sale of waste and scrap of ferrous and non-ferrous metals generated from production of commodities, amounts of taxes earlier accepted legally for exemption for the residues of waste and scrap of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including those on records as of January 1, 2006, must be restored.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 98 of February 17, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Submission by Residents and Non-Residents of Documents of Confirmation and Information in the Course of Currency Operations to Currency Control Agents Except for the Authorised Banks

Defines the procedure of submission by residents and non-residents to currency control agents (except for the banks) of documents of confirmation and information, such as the personal identification documents, certificates of registration in the tax bodies, notification of the opening of the account abroad, registration documents, bank excerpts, certificates of transactions etc., an exhaustive list being specified in Part 4 of Article 23 of the Federal Law on the currency regulation and currency control.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 97 of February 17, 2007 on the Cases of Employment of a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person Staying Temporarily in the Russian Federation Outside the Subject of the Russian Federation Where They Get the Employment (Temporary Stay) Permission

Specifies an exhaustive list of cases when the mentioned citizens or stateless persons may be employed on the territory of the subject of the Russian Federation that did not issue the employment permission.
      The Decision is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 95 of February 17, 2007 on the Measures of Protection of Russian Producers of Nickel-Containing Rolling Stock

To protect economic interests of Russian producers of nickel-containing rolling stock, introduces for 3 years an anti-dumping duty for corrosion-resistant flat rolling stock containing 2.5% by weight or more of nickel, originating in the member-states of the European Union and imported to the customs territory of the Russian Federation under the codes of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 7219 11 000 0, 7219 12 100 0, 7219 21 100 9, 7219 22 100 9, 7219 23 000 9, 7219 24 000 9, 7219 31 000 0, 7219 32 100 9, 7219 33 100 9, 7219 34 100 9, 7219 35 100 0, 7219 90 200 0, 7219 90 800 9, 7220 11 000 9, 7220 12 000 0, 7220 20 210 0, 7220 20 410 0, 7220 20 810 0, 7220 90 200 0, 7220 90 800 0 in the amount of EUR 0.84 per kg less the weight of packing materials and containers.
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation No. 32 of December 8, 2006 on Enforcement Measures for Foodstuffs Containing GMO

Summarises the results of enforcement measures carried out in 2006 for the foodstuffs containing components obtained using genetic engineering modified organisms. More than 50% of investigated foodstuffs containing GMO do not show this information.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 16, 2007. Reg. No. 8958.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 96 of February 17, 2007 on the Amendments to Some of the Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation on the Alternative Civil Service

Differentiates the duration of alternative civil service for citizens called up before January 1, 2007, in the period from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 inclusive and from January 1, 2008.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-11-02/35 of February 5, 2007

Budget-supported institutions may not apply the simplified system of taxation according to Subitem 17 of Item 3 of Article 346.2 of the Tax Code. The norm applies to all budget-supported institutions.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-07-15/02 of January 11, 2007

The taxpayer must keep separate records for the amounts of the value added tax for the purchased commodities (works, services) used in operations both subject to this tax and exempted from it.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 108 of February 20, 2007 on the Invalidation of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 61 of February 6, 2003

According to the new wording of the Regulation on the procedure of processing of issues of citizenship of the Russian Federation, information on the child aged up to 14 years having obtained the citizenship of the Russian Federation is entered in the passport of the parent (parents) and certified with the signature of the official and appropriate seal of the authorised body. If requested by the parent (parents), the stamp confirming the presence of the citizenship of the Russian Federation with the child may also be put on the birth certificate of the child. A similar stamp confirms also the fact of obtaining of the citizenship of the Russian Federation by the child until 14 years of age if requested by the adoptive parent (trustee).
      Earlier, the child up to 14 years of age having obtained the citizenship of the Russian Federation got an insert in the birth certificate confirming the presence of the citizenship of the Russian Federation.
      The Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation having endorsed the form of the insert in the birth certificate is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 106 of February 20, 2007 on the Interim Rate of the Import Customs Duty for Parts and Accessories to Weighing Instruments with Sensitivity of 0.05 G or Higher

Introduces for 9 months the zero rate of the import customs duty for parts and accessories to weighing instruments with sensitivity of 0.05 g of higher (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 9016 00 900 0).
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAE-3-06/892@ of December 25, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Documents Used in the Course of and While Drawing up the Results of the Tax Checks; the Reasons and Procedure of Prolongation of the On-Site Tax Check; Procedure of Interaction of the Tax Bodies Executing the Order to Withdraw Documents; Requirements to the Act of the Tax Check

Refines the procedure of carrying out of the on-site tax check and drawing up of the results of the cameral and on-site tax checks in pursuance of the entry into force from January 1, 2007 of the amendments to the Tax Code.
      The Order applies to the tax checks and other measures of tax control begun after December 31, 2006.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 20, 2007. Reg. No. 8991.

Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 1386 of December 29, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Procedure of Drawing up of the Slip of Form TS-21, Blank Slip of Form TS-21 and the Application to Accept for Temporary Storage of Currency, Precious Metals and Precious Stones

Endorses the form of the slip TS-21 and the instruction on the procedure of its drawing up, as well as the form of the application to accept for temporary storage currency, precious metals and precious stones.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 20, 2007. Reg. No. 8990.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 12 of January 11, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Application of the Insured to Transfer from One Non-State Pension Fund to Another Non-State Pension Fund, Its Filling Instruction, As Well As the Procedure to Convey the Mentioned Form of the Application and Its Filling Instruction to the Insured

According to the Federal Law on non-state pension funds, the insured may transfer from fund to fund by concluding the contract of obligatory pension insurance with the new fund and sending an application to the Pension Fund.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 20, 2007. Reg. No. 8978.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 2n of January 9, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 55n of April 7, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Profit Tax from Organisations for the Cases of Production Sharing Agreements and Its Filling Procedure

Amends the procedure of filling of the tax declaration for the profit tax from organisations for the cases of production sharing agreements.
      The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax declaration for the first reporting period of 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 20, 2007. Reg. No. 8967.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1785-U of January 9, 2007 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 128-I of March 10, 2006 on the Rules of Issue and Registration of Securities by Credit Organisations on the Territory of the Russian Federation

In pursuance of the recent legislative changes, in particular, the amendments to the Federal Law on the securities market, amends the Instruction specifying the rules of issue and state registration of stocks, bonds and other emission securities by credit organisations on the territory of the Russian Federation.
      The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 20, 2007. Reg. No. 8964.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 301-P of January 16, 2007 on the Procedure of Drawing up and Submission of the Intermediate Liquidation Balance Report and the Liquidation Balance Report of the Liquidated Credit Organisation and Their Coordination by the Territorial Institution of the Bank of Russia

Endorses the procedure of drawing up and submission of the intermediate liquidation balance report and the liquidation balance report of the liquidated credit organisation and their coordination by the territorial intuition of the Bank of Russia at the place of location of the credit organisation.
      The Regulation is entered into force 30 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 February 20, 2007. Reg. No. 8963.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 117 of February 20, 2007 on the Licensing of Activities of Restoration of Objects of Cultural Heritage (Monuments of History and Culture)

Endorses a new Regulation on the procedure of licensing of activities of restoration of objects of cultural heritage (monuments of history and culture).

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 116 of February 20, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Control and Enforcement in the Sphere of Education

Endorses the rules specifying the procedure of control and enforcement in the sphere of education implemented by the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Education and Science and authorised bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 115 of February 20, 2007 on the Adoption of Normative Acts on Individual Issues of Regulation of Tariff Rates of Organisations of the Communal Complex

The Ministry of Regional Development of Russia is empowered with authority of organisation of methodology support for the bodies of local government to prepare the orders to work out investment programs of organisations of the communal complex, as well as to endorse the methods of monitoring of implementation of operational programs and investment programs of the mentioned organisations in coordination with the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Federal Service for Tariff Rates of Russia.
      The sphere of reference of the Federal Service of State Statistics shall include endorsement in coordination with the Ministry of Regional Development of Russia, Federal Service for Tariff Rates of Russia and the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia of the forms of state statistical monitoring of activities of organisations of the communal complex and the periods of their submission.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 880 of December 26, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Explanations on the Procedure of Application of Article 15 of the Federal Law on the State Pension Support in the Russian Federation

Explains the procedure of application of Article 15 of the Federal Law of December 15, 2001 on the state pension support in the Russian Federation specifying the amounts of pensions for servicemen and members of their families.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 20, 2007. Reg. No. 8988.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 897 of December 31, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development on the Execution of the State Function of Licensing of Pharmacy Activities

According to the actual legislation, the pharmacy activities carried out by legal entities and independent entrepreneurs in the sphere of circulation of medicines intended for medical use, including the wholesale, retail trade of medicines and making medicines, is subject to obligatory licensing.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 20, 2007. Reg. No. 8966.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 168 of December 27, 2006 on the Payments for the Transit Shipment of Cargo by International Railway Transport and the Currency of Payments for the Chartering Year of 2007

According to the tariff policy of the railways of CIS member-states, the payments for the transit shipment of cargo over the Russian railways are made in US dollars.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 20, 2007. Reg. No. 8962.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 153 of December 18, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Transport on the Execution of the State Function of Licensing of Activities of Passenger Transportation by Vehicles Outfitted for Carrying More Than 8 Persons (Except for the Cases When the Mentioned Activities Are Carried out for Own Needs of the Legal Entity or Independent Entrepreneur)

Endorses the Administrative Regulation of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Transport on the execution of the state function of licensing of activities of passenger transportation by vehicles outfitted for carrying more than 8 persons (except for the cases when the mentioned activities are carried out for own needs of the legal entity or independent entrepreneur).
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 19, 2007. Reg. No. 8960.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 900 of December 31, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development on the Execution of the State Function of Control of the Medical Expert Evaluation Proceedings

The sphere of reference of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Public Health and Social Development shall include control of the medical expert evaluation proceedings which includes expert evolution of the temporary disability, social expert evaluation for identification of disability; forensic expert evaluation; independent medical expert evaluation.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 19, 2007. Reg. No. 8959.

Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation No. 463 of December 12, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Norms of Natural Loss of Ethyl Alcohol at Storage

Endorses the norms of natural loss of ethyl alcohol at storage.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 21, 2007. Reg. No. 8997.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-02-07/1-63 of February 13, 2007

The failure on the part of the taxpayer to submit the tax declaration within 180 days upon expiry of the deadline specified in the legislation on taxes and fees implies a fine in the amount of 5% of the amount of tax due under this declaration for each complete or incomplete month from the day of submission, however, not more than 30% of the mentioned amount and not less than Rbl 100.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-04-05-01/31 of February 13, 2007

The taxpayer is entitled for a tax exemption for the incomes tax from natural persons in the amount spent for the new construction or purchase of a flat on the territory of the Russian Federation in the amount of actually made expenses. The total amount of the exemption may not be greater than Rbl 1,000,000.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-06/2/26 of February 15, 2007

Economically substantiated and documentarily confirmed expenses pertaining to organisation of structural divisions shall be registered for profit taxation purposes according to the procedure envisaged in the Tax Code for particular types of expenses, as well as according to the applied method of acceptance of incomes and expenses. The mentioned expenses are recognised as such in the reporting (tax) period where they refer to, regardless of the date of the beginning of the actual functioning of the structural division.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-05-06-01/07 of February 16, 2007

In the determination of the taxable base for the property tax from organisations, the fixed assets recognised as object of taxation shall be registered at their residual cost generated according to the established accounting procedure.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 130 of February 26, 2007 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 988 of December 21, 2000

The functions of the state registration of new foodstuffs, materials and items, the keeping of the State Register of Foodstuffs, Materials and Items Permitted for Production on the Territory of the Russian Federation or for Import to the Territory of the Russian Federation and Circulation initially vested in the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of Russia are included in the sphere of reference of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 129 of February 26, 2007 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Individual Types of Used Motor Vehicles

The amendments pertain to the subheadings of used motor vehicles intended for carrying 10 person and more including the driver.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 126 of February 23, 2007 on the Measures to Implement the Federal Law on the Federal Budget for the Year 2007

Adopts for execution the federal budget for the year 2007. Appropriate changes are introduced in individual acts of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1787-U of January 16, 2007 on the Invalidation of Individual Normative Acts of the Russian Federation

Pursuant to the adoption of the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 301-P of January 16, 2007, invalidates the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 125-P of October 4, 2000 defining the procedure of drawing up of the intermediate liquidation balance report and the liquidation balance report of the credit organisation and their coordination with the territorial institutions of the Bank of Russia.
      The Direction is entered into force 30 days after the day of its official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. ChD-6-09/75 of February 5, 2007 on the Explanations on the Filling of the Blank Form of the Report of the Opening (Closing) of the Account, Change of Account Details

Introduces for application from February 5, 2007 the forms of bank reports of the opening (closing) of the account, change of account details endorsed by the Order of the Federal Tax Service of Russia No. SAE-3-09/861@ of December 13, 2006.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 18-T of February 19, 2007 on the Acceptance by Banks of Encashment Orders Put Forward by the Territorial Bodies of the Federal Bailiff Service

The banks servicing debtor accounts shall accept from the bailiffs implementing enforced execution of court rulings and acts of other bodies in compliance with the legislation encashment orders to collect monetary resources without the stamp of the issuer bank. The bank servicing the payer (debtor) shall check encashment orders according to the requirements of the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 2-P of October 3, 2002 on cashless payments in the Russian Federation, except for the checking of the stamp of the issuer bank in the field of the encashment order "Notes of the Recipient Bank" and the signature of the executor in charge.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 19-T of February 20, 2007 on the Opening of Accounts to Financial Bodies

Informs of opportunities of opening of accounts to financial bodies of the subjects of the Russian Federation in the institutions of the Bank of Russia on the Balance Account 40302 "Resources in Temporary Use of Budget-Supported Institutions".

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 01-13-5/591 of February 20, 2007 on the List of Organisations

The list of organisations whose promissory notes (claims rights under credit contracts) may be accepted to secure the credits of the Bank of Russia, as well as organisations that may act as guarantors for the promissory notes (claims rights under credit contracts) accepted to secure the credits of the Bank of Russia, shall include the OAO Sibur Holding, OAO RAO Joint Power Supply Systems of Russia and the OAO FSK Joint Power Supply System.

Federal Law No. 21-FZ of February 28, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 61 of the Land Code of the Russian Federation

Article 61 of the Land Code of the Russian Federation defining the terms and procedure of reimbursement of losses incurred as a result of violation of the land rights of citizens and organisations is being brought in compliance with the civil legislation. Apart from the responsibility of the bodies of state power for the losses incurred on the citizens and organisations through issue of illegal acts, the Article introduces also a similar responsibility of the bodies of local government.

Federal Law No. 22-FZ of February 28, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 1.1 of the Federal Law on the Days of Military Glory and Memorial Dates of Russia

The list of memorial dates of Russia shall include also December 9 - the Day of the Heroes of the Fatherland.

Federal Law No. 23-FZ of February 28, 2007 on the Execution of the Budget of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2005

Endorses the report of execution of the budget of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation for the year 2005 with incomes amounting to Rbl 186,692,034.8 thousand and expenses amounting to Rbl 165,311,675.8 thousand, the excess of incomes over expenses being Rbl 21,380,359.0 thousand.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the Federal Treasury and the Central Bank of Russia Nos. 03-04-08-01/7, 42-7.1-15/5.2-69, 20-T of February 20, 2007 on the Procedure of Application of Individual Provisions of the Federal Law No. 269-FZ of December 30, 2006 on the Simplified Procedure of Declaring of Incomes by Natural Persons

From March 1, 2007, a Federal Law is entered into force on the simplified procedure of declaring of incomes by natural persons envisaging a simplified procedure of declaring to provide for opportunities to pay the taxes from incomes received before January 1, 2006.

Federal Constitutional Law No. 3-FKZ of March 2, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 11 of the Federal Constitutional Law on the Government of the Russian Federation

According to the amendments, members of the Government of the Russian Federation may not form part of the management bodies, trustee or supervising boards, other bodies of foreign non-commercial non-governmental organisations and their structural division operating on the territory of the Russian Federation if otherwise is not envisaged in the legislation of the Russian Federation, international treaties or agreements on the mutual basis of the federal bodies of state power with the state bodies of foreign states, international and foreign organisations.
      The teaching, scientific and other creative activities carried out by the member of the Government of the Russian Federation may not be financed exclusively at the expense of resources of foreign states, foreign and international organisations, foreign citizens and stateless persons if otherwise is not envisaged in the legislation of the Russian Federation, international treaties of the Russian Federation or agreements on the mutual basis of the federal bodies of state power with the state bodies of foreign states, international and foreign organisations.
      The Federal Constitutional Law is entered into force 30 days after the of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 25-FZ of March 2, 2007 on the Municipal Service in the Russian Federation

Specifies the fundamentals of the legal regulation of relations pertaining to admission of citizens of the Russian Federation to the municipal service, its flow and termination, as well as determination of the legal status of municipal servants.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from June 1, 2007.

Federal Law no. 24-FZ of March 2, 2007 on the Amendments to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Refining the Requirements to Persons Occupying State or Municipal Positions, As Well As Positions of the State or Municipal Service

Amends 18 legislative acts of the Russian Federation containing provisions defining the status of person occupying state or municipal positions, as well as positions of the state or municipal service (deputies, higher officials of the subjects of the Russian Federation, judges, prosecutors, auditors of the Audit Chamber of the Russian Federation, members of election commissions with the right of vote, elected officials of the bodies of local government, state and municipal servants).
      Specifies, in particular, that the mentioned persons may not form part of the management bodies, trustee or supervising boards, other bodies of foreign non-commercial non-governmental organisations and their structural division operating on the territory of the Russian Federation if otherwise is not envisaged in the international treaty of the Russian Federation or legislation of the Russian Federation.
      The teaching, scientific and other creative activities of the mentioned persons may not be financed exclusively at the expense of resources of foreign states, foreign and international organisations, foreign citizens and stateless persons if otherwise is not envisaged in the international treaty of the Russian Federation or legislation of the Russian Federation.
      The Federal Law is entered into force 30 days after the day of its official publication.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. GI-6-04/135@ of February 21, 2007 on the Procedure of Submission of Information on the Incomes of Natural Persons Supplied by Tax Agents Including Their Separate Divisions

Russian organisations, permanent representations of foreign organisations in the Russian Federation must submit on the annual basis no later than the 1st of April of the year following the expired tax period to the tax body at the place of their registration information on the incomes received from them by natural persons during the calendar year and the amounts of accrued and collected taxes in this period.

Federal Law No. 28-FZ of March 3, 2007 on the Removal of Provisional Clauses to Some International Treaties

To reinforce the intentional legal basis for the combating of terrorism, removes provisional clauses introduced by the USSR when signing a number of anti-terrorist international treaties: Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft, Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, International Convention against the Taking of Hostages.

Federal Law No. 27-FZ of March 3, 2007 on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the French Republic on the Long-Term Cooperation in the Sphere of Development, Creation and Use of Carrier Missiles and the Placing of Carrier Missile Soyuz-ST in the Guiana Outer Space Centre

The ratified agreement envisages an extended cooperation of Russia and France in the modernisation of the space centre in the French Guiana and its use for carrier missiles Soyuz ST to launch space vessels in the framework of the state programs of the Russian Federation and France.

Federal Law No. 26-FZ of March 3, 2007 on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the European Community on the Readmission

Ratifies the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the European Community on the readmission signed in Sochi on May 25, 2006.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 15 of January 24, 2007 on the Invalidation of the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia No. 186 of August 10, 2005 on the Requirements to the Description of Individual Categories of Commodities in Column 31 of the Cargo Customs Declaration

Invalidates the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia envisaging additional requirements to the description of individual categories of commodities in Column 31 of the cargo customs declaration "Cargo Items and Description of Commodities" containing information on the declared commodities permitting to identify the commodities and include them in one of the 10-digit classification codes of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia, as well as information on the cargo items.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 1, 2007. Reg. No. 9004.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 142 of March 3, 2007 on the Amendment to the Regulation on the Application of Uniform Rates of Customs Duties, Taxes for Commodities Moved Across the Customs Border of the Russian Federation by Natural Persons for Personal Use Endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 718 of November 29, 2003

During the period of the State Program of Assistance of Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad, customs duties, taxes and fees are not collected for the import of commodities (including cars) by its participants purchased earlier when entering the territory of the Russian Federation.
      The Decision is entered into force from the day of its official publication and applies to legal relations emerging from January 1, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 132 of March 3, 2007 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 398 of June 29, 2006

Abandons special requirements to the procedure of re-labelling of alcoholic products imported to the customs territory of the Russian Federation until March 31, 2006 inclusive and labelled with excise duty stamps issued until December 31, 2005 inclusive.
      The Decision is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 145 of March 5, 2007 on the Procedure of Organisation and Carrying out of the State Expert Evaluation of Design Documentation and Results of Engineering Surveys

Defines the procedure of organisation and carrying out in the Russian Federation of the state expert evaluation of design documentation and results of engineering surveys, procedure of determination of the amount of payment for the state expert evaluation, as well as the procedure of collection of this payment.

Letter of the Federal Treasury and the Central Bank of Russia Nos. 42-7.1-15/5.2-73, 21-T of February 22, 2007 on the Sample Agreement

According to the Federal Law on the federal budget for the year 2007, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation is the administrator of receipts in the budget system of the Russian Federation for individual types of incomes. In this connection, prepares a sample agreement on the interaction between the departments of the Federal Treasury in the subjects of the Russian Federation and the Central Bank of Russia to execute the function of administration of receipts of individual types of incomes to the budget system of the Russian Federation.

Federal Law No. 33-FZ of March 8, 2007 on the Accession of the Russian Federation to the Budapest Convention on the Contract for the Carriage of Goods by Inland Waterway (CMNI)

The Russian Federation has become one of the member-countries of the Budapest Convention on the Contract for the Carriage of Goods by Inland Waterway (CMNI) of June 22, 2001. Provisions of the Convention apply to international shipments if the port of loading and the port of unloading are located in different states, at least one of which being a member of the Convention.

Federal Law No. 31-FZ of March 8, 2007 on the Ratification of the Protocol on the Amendment to the Protocol to the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Delimitation of the Bottom of the Northern Part of the Caspian Sea for the Purpose of Implementation of the Sovereign Rights for the Use of Natural Resources of June 6, 1998

The ratified Protocol brings the legal regime of use of the Central Geological Structure and the deposit of Khvalynskoye in compliance with the legal regime already in use for the geological structure of Kurmangazy on the basis of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the delimitation of the bottom of the northern part of the Caspian Sea for the purpose of implementation of the sovereign rights for the use of natural resources.

Federal Law No. 30-FZ of March 7, 2007 on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the European Community on the Simplification of the Issue of Visas to the Citizens of the Russian Federation and the European Union

The Council of the Federation of the Russian Federation has approved on February 21, 2007 the Federal Law on the ratification of the International Agreement aimed at liberalisation of the regime of mutual trips of citizens of the Russian Federation and the citizens of the member-states of the European Union (except for Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland).

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 148 of March 10, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Issue of Permissions for the Right of Arranging of a Retail-Trade Market Place

Specifies the procedure of issue to legal entities of permission for the right of arranging of a retail-trade market place.
      The Decision is entered into force from April 11, 2007.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1793-U of February 20, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 215-P of February 10, 2003 on the Method of Determination of Own Resources (Capital) of Credit Organisations

The introduced amendments pertain to the procedure of determination of the amount of own resources (capital) of credit organisations and are stipulated by the improvements of the actual banking legislation in the sphere of generation of sources of own resources.
      The Direction is entered into force from 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 March 7, 2007. Reg. No. 9072.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1794-U of February 21, 2007 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 109-I of January 14, 2004 on the Procedure for the Bank of Russia to Take the Decision on the State Registration of Credit Organisations and Issue of Licenses for Bank Operations

The amendments pertain to the terms of obtaining of licenses for bank operations by credit organisations at their creation and of opening (closing) of divisions of the credit organisation (branch) on the territory of the Russian Federation.
      The Direction is entered into force 30 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 March 7, 2007. Reg. No. 9071.

Decision of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 15 of January 26, 2007 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 27 of March 23, 2004

The procedure of registration of insurants in the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation is being brought in compliance with the actual legislation on the registration of legal entities and independent entrepreneurs.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 6, 2007. Reg. No. 9070.

Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 106 of January 29, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Format for the Entry of Information on the Labelled Alcoholic Products on Excise-Duty Stamps for Reading in the Technical Means of the Joint State Automatic Information System of Registration of the Volume of Production and Circulation of Ethyl Alcohol, Alcoholic and Alcohol-Containing Products

Since the Federal Customs Service of Russia is empower with authority to work out the state policy and normative-and-legal regulation in the customs sphere, endorses the format for the entry of information on the labelled alcoholic products on excise duty stamps for reading in the technical means of the Joint State Automatic Information System of registration of the volume of production and circulation of ethyl alcohol. alcoholic and alcohol-containing products.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 6, 2007. Reg. No. 9055.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 18 of January 25, 2007 on the Invalidation of the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia No. 13 of January 25, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Format for the Entry of Information on the Labelled Alcoholic Products on Excise-Duty Stamps for Reading in the Technical Means of the Joint State Automatic Information System of Registration of the Volume of Production and Circulation of Ethyl Alcohol, Alcoholic and Alcohol-Containing Products

In pursuance of the adoption of the Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 106 of January 29, 2007 on the endorsement of the format for the entry of information on the labelled alcoholic products on excise duty stamps for reading in the technical means of the Joint State Automatic Information System of registration of the volume of production and circulation of ethyl alcohol, alcoholic and alcohol-containing products, invalidates the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia No. 13 of January 25, 2006 on the same issue.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 6, 2007. Reg. No. 9054.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAE-3-07/29@ of January 26, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Procedure and Format of Submission in the Electronic Form of Notifications Confirming the Purchase (Including the One for Own Needs), Supplies of Ethyl Alcohol (Including the Denatured One) and Non-Bottled Alcohol-Containing Products with the Content of Ethyl Alcohol Greater Than 60% of the Volume of the Finished Product

A new procedure was introduced from January 1, 2006 for submission by organisations of notifications confirming the purchase (including the one for own needs), supplies of ethyl alcohol (including the denatured one) and non-bottled alcohol-containing products with the content of ethyl alcohol greater than 60% of the volume of the finished product endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 857 of December 31, 2005. The notifications may be submitted on paper or in the electronic form, the format being endorsed by the Federal Tax Service of Russia.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 6, 2007. Reg. No. 9032.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring No. 13 of January 24, 2007 on the Invalidation of the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring No. 53 of April 24, 2006

Following FATF, invalidates the list of the states (territories) failing to participate in the international cooperation in the sphere of combating of legalisation (laundering) of incomes obtained in a criminal way and financing of terrorism. The appropriate list contained only two states: Myanmar (Burma) and Nigeria.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 5, 2007. Reg. No. 9018.

Order of the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement No. 1130 of December 26, 2006 on the Endorsement and Entry into Force of the Procedure of Building and Keeping of Files in the Course of the State Construction Enforcement

Any documents drawn up or obtained in the course of the state construction enforcement must be included in the file built by the body of state construction enforcement. Endorses the procedure describing the requirements to the building and keeping of files in the course of the state construction enforcement carried out by the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement and its territorial bodies, authorised bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, which does not apply to the cases of administrative violations.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 5, 2007. Reg. No. 9009.

Order of the Federal Agency of the Industry No. 105 of March 6, 2007 on the State Register of Cash Registers

According to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 3 of January 23, 2007 having endorsed the rules of keeping of the State Register of Cash Registers, information on cash registers available in the State Register of Cash Registers is considered to be included in the State Register of Cash Registers from the day of entry into force of the mentioned Decision.

Budget Message to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the Budget Policy in 2008-2010 of March 9, 2007

Defines the main guidelines and directions of the budget strategy for the years 2008-2010.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 156 of March 12, 2007 on the Cost of Insurance Year in 2007

The cost of insurance year in 2007 is fixed in the amount of Rbl 1,848.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 152 of March 10, 2007 on the Federal Body of Executive Power in Charge of the State Regulation in the Sphere of Shared Construction of Apartment Houses and/or Other Objects of Immovable Property

The federal body of executive power in charge of the state regulation in the sphere of shared construction of apartment houses and/or other objects of immovable property is the Federal Service for Financial Markets.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 147 of March 10, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Use of Official Internet Sites to Place Information on the Orders for Supplies of Commodities, Carrying out Works, Rendering Services for the State and Municipal Needs and on the Requirements to the Technological, Software, Linguistic, Legal and Organisational Means of Use of the Mentioned Sites

Official sites will be used to place on the obligatory basis information envisaged in the Federal Law on the placing of orders for supplies of commodities, carrying out works, rendering services for the state and municipal needs, information on the authorised body, as well as the requirements to the forms of submission and placing of information and the protocols of exchange of electronic messages for submission of information to be placed on the official site.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 29 of February 14, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Particulars of Entry of Records in the Joint State Register of the Rights for Immovable Property and Transactions with It at the State Registration of Rights for the Objects of Immovable Property Being Common Property in an Apartment House, Providing Information on the Registered Rights of the Common Shared Property for Such Objects of Immovable Property

The Instruction specifies the particulars of the state registration of the rights for the objects of immovable property being common property in an apartment house (objects of immovable property), as well as the particulars of keeping of files of documents of title and providing of information on the registered rights for the common shared property for such objects of immovable property.
      Invalidates the Instruction on the procedure of the state registration of rights for immovable property and transactions with it in condominiums.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 6, 2007. Reg. No. 9069.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 37 of January 17, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation

Endorses the Regulation specifying general rules of organisation of activities of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of Russia.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 6, 2007. Reg. No. 9030.

Information Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 35 of February 28, 2007 "Summary of the Practice of Application of the Federal Law on Currency Regulation and Currency Control and the Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia Adopted in Pursuance of It"

Information on the payments for commodities handed over to a non-resident (received from a non-resident) on the territory of the Russian Federation and the invoice cost of these commodities is not registered in the bank control sheet. For the payments under a foreign trade contract, the payments pertaining to VAT paid by the resident are not registered in Section II "Information on Payments" of the bank control sheet. Availability of a short name with the bank of the transaction certificate may not server as grounds to redraw the transaction certificate by residents.
      When carrying out currency operations that required special bank accounts earlier in compliance with the normative acts of the Russian Federation through the bank accounts of the bank clients not being special accounts, the certificate of currency operations of the payment document should indicate the codes of the type of the currency operation proceeding from the nature of the carried out currency operations regardless of availability of the appropriate sign in the list of currency operations of clients of authorised banks provided in Appendix 2 to Instruction 117-I.

Federal Law No. 34-FZ of March 13, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 11 of the Federal Law on the Insurance of Deposits of Natural Persons in the Banks of the Russian Federation and Article 6 of the Federal Law on the Payments of the Bank of Russia Pertaining to Deposits of Natural Persons in the Banks Recognised Bankrupt That Fail to Participate in the System of Obligatory Insurance of Deposits of Natural Persons in the Banks of the Russian Federation

In view of the growth of the number of large deposits of natural persons, the amount of the aggregate insurance reimbursement pertaining to bank deposits of citizens is increased from Rbl 190,000 to Rbl 400,000. The mentioned increase pertains to the deposits in the banks participating in the system of obligatory insurance of deposits of natural persons and the deposits in the banks failing to form part of this system.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 150 of March 10, 2007 on the Procedure to Pay out Compensations of Transportation Expenses to Participants of the State Program of Assistance of Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad

Expenses subject to compensation include travel and transportation of personal belongings of the participant of the program and members of his family, as well as appropriate customs payments and taxes.
      The Decision is entered into force from the date of official publication and applies to legal relations emerging from January 1, 2007.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-11-05/39 of March 5, 2007

The services of accepting of orders for passenger transportation by taxi over the phone are not included in household services, therefore activities of an independent entrepreneur pertaining to such services may not be transferred to the uniform imputed income tax. The mentioned entrepreneurial activities are subject to taxation according to the common procedure or may be transferred to the simplified system of taxation.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-04-05-01/78 of March 6, 2007

The taxpayer is entitled for the property tax exemption for the incomes tax from natural persons in the amount designated for the redemption of interest under targeted loans (credits) obtained in credit or other organisations of the Russian Federation and actually spent for the new contraction or purchase of a dwelling home, flat, room or a share (shares) in them on the territory of the Russian Federation.
      If the credit provided by the bank was spent for the purchase of a flat other than the one indicated in the credit contract, it may not be regarded as a targeted credit obtained for the purchase of the flat subject to the property tax exemption. The interest allocated to redeem the mentioned credit may not be included in the calculation of the amount of the property tax exemption.
      If the purchase of the other flat was coordinated with the bank having provided the credit, the issue of inclusion of the interest of its redemption in the calculation of the property tax exemption may be examined additionally in the case of submission of appropriate documents.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-11-04/3/64 of March 7, 2007

The services of air conditioning and ventilation, as well as the services of construction and installation works pertaining to air conditioning and ventilation, may not be included in household services, therefore entrepreneurial activities pertaining to such services may not be transferred to the system of taxation in the form of the uniform imputed income tax. The mentioned entrepreneurial activities are subject to taxation according to the common procedure or may be transferred to the simplified system of taxation.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-06/2/42 of March 2, 2007

The payment of amounts of the profit tax shall be made by taxpayers at the place of location of the organisation, as well as the place of location of each if its separate divisions, proceeding from the share of profit falling on these separate divisions determined as an average mean of the specific weight of the average listed number of employees (labour remuneration expenses) and the specific weight of the residual cost of the amortised property of this separate division respectively in the average listed number of employees (labour remuneration expenses) and the residual cost of the amortised property.
      Labour remuneration expenses for employees of the parent office of the organisation according to the manning table may be accepted for the estimate of the share of profit falling on the parent office. Labour remuneration expenses for employees whose actual place of work is another subject of the Russian Federation rather than the place of location of the parent office - the place of location of the separate structural division - shall apply for the calculation of the share of profit falling on this separate division.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-06/4/22 of March 2, 2007

According to Subitem 8 of Item 1 of Article 251 of the Tax Code, determination of the taxable base does not include incomes in the form of property obtained by state and municipal institutions at the decision of the bodies of executive power of all levels. The grounds to apply the given norm is a document of execution issued according to established procedure by the appropriate body of executive power. The state contract for the works (rendering services) is an independent reason of obtaining of property on a gratuitous basis and may not be regarded as a decision of the body of executive power.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-04-05-02/3 of March 2, 2007

The taxable base for the uniform social tax with independent entrepreneurs is determined as a sum of incomes obtained by such taxpayers during the tax period from entrepreneurial activities less expenses pertaining to their obtaining. In this case, expenses may not include amounts of professional tax exemption granted to independent entrepreneurs in the calculation of the incomes tax from natural persons in the amount of 20% of the total amount of incomes in the case of absence of documentarily confirmed expenses.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-06/1/145 of March 2, 2007

Expenses of purchase of leased property are recognised as expenses in the reporting (tax) periods where leasing payments are envisaged according to the terms of the contract. In this case, the mentioned expenses are included in proportion to the amount of leasing payments.
      The mentioned procedure applies only if the object of leasing is registered on the lessee balance. The cost of the leasing property registered according to the leasing contract on the lesser balance is redeemed by accruing amortisation.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-06/1/147 of March 2, 2007

Determination of the taxable base for the profit tax from organisations does not include incomes in the from of amounts of reduction of the registered capital of the organisation in the reported (tax) period if such reduction is done in compliance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation, the list of cases when the joint-stock company must reduce the registered capital being defined in the Federal Law on joint-stock companies.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 163 of March 15, 2007 on the Coefficient of Indexing of the Amount of the Monthly Insurance Payment under Obligatory Social Insurance against Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases

From January 1, 2007, the coefficient of indexing of the amount of the monthly insurance payment under obligatory social insurance against industrial accident and occupational diseases assigned before January 1, 2007 makes 1.075.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 13n of February 9, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Estimate of Advance Payments for the Uniform Social Tax for Taxpayers Making Payments to Natural Persons and Its Filling Procedure

From January 1, 2007, amendments came into force in individual provisions of Chapter 24 "Uniform Social Tax" of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 15, 2007. Reg. No. 9118.

Order of the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement No. 56 of February 7, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Permission for Emissions of Hazardous Substances (Pollutants) into the Atmospheric Air

According to the Federal Law No. 96-FZ of May 4, 1999 on the protection of the atmospheric air, emissions of hazardous substances (pollutants) into the atmospheric air are permitted on the basis of the permission issued by the territorial body of the federal body of executive power in charge of protection of the environment, bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation in charge of the state management in the sphere of environmental protection. The permission of emissions of hazardous substances (pollutants) into the atmospheric air specifies the limiting emissions and other terms providing for the protection of the atmospheric air.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 14, 2007. Reg. No. 9108.

Order of the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement No. 84 of February 19, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Issue of Permissions for Emissions of Hazardous Substances (Pollutants) into the Atmospheric Air

Specifies the procedure and terms of issue by the territorial bodies of the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement of permissions for emissions of hazardous substances (pollutants) into the atmospheric air to legal entities and independent entrepreneurs possessing stationary sources of emissions of hazardous substances (pollutants) into the atmospheric air and subject to the federal state ecological control.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 14, 2007. Reg. No. 9107.

Order of the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement No. 87 of February 20, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Organisation of Work of the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement to Issue Permissions for Emissions and Discharges of Pollutants Specifying the Limits of Emissions and Discharges

The Instruction regulates organisation of work of the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement and its territorial bodies pertaining to issue of permissions for emissions and discharges of pollutants specifying the limits of emissions and discharges for legal entities whose economic and other activities do not ensure observation of the normatives of permissible emissions and discharges of hazardous substances (pollutants).
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 14, 2007. Reg. No. 9099.

Instruction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 130-I of February 21, 2007 on the Procedure of Obtaining of the Preliminary Consent of the Bank of Russia for the Purchase and/or Acquiring in Trust Control of Stocks (Shares) of the Credit Organisation

According to the legislation on banks and banking activities, the purchase and/or acquiring in trust control as a result of a single or several transactions by a single legal entity or natural person or a group of legal entities and/or natural persons interconnected by an agreement or a group of legal entities being affiliated to or dependent on each other of more than 20% of stocks (shares) of the credit organisation requires a preliminary consent of the Bank of Russia.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 14, 2007. Reg. No. 9088.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-4/pz-n of January 25, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Standards of Issue of Securities and Registration of Prospectuses of Securities

Endorses the new standards of issue of securities and registration of prospectuses of securities regulating the issue of stocks, issuer options and the bonds of legal entities (except for the state and municipal securities, bonds of the Central Bank of Russia), as well as the procedure of registration of prospectuses of appropriate securities.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 15, 2007. Reg. No. 9121.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-06/1/23 of January 23, 2007

Provides explanations on the issues of profit taxation of a Russian organisation being affiliated to a foreign organisation - resident of the USA - possessing more than 20% of the registered capital of the organisation.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-04-05-01/37 of February 13, 2007

The taxpayer is entitled for a property tax exemption for the incomes tax from natural persons in the amount actually spent for the new construction or purchase of a flat on the territory of the Russian Federation. The total amount of the property tax exemption may not be greater than Rbl 1,000,000.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 164 of March 20, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Export Customs Duties for Raw Oil and Individual Categories of Commodities of Oil Exported from the Territory of the Russian Federation Outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

Reduces the rates of export customs duties for raw oil and individual categories of commodities of oil exported from the territory of the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements
      The rate of the export customs duty for raw oil is fixed in the amount of USD 156.4 per ton instead of USD 179.7.
      Export from the Russian Federation of light and medium distillates, gas oils, propane, butane, ethylene, propylene, butylene and butadiene, other liquefied gasses, benzene, toluene, xylenes is subject to the duty at the rate of USD 117.7 per ton (instead of USD 133.4).
      The rate of the export duty for liquid fuels, lubricants, spent oil products, petrolatum, paraffin, microcrystalline oil wax, gatch, other mineral waxes and similar products (other than the raw ones), as well as the oil coke, oil bitumen and other residues of processing of oil or oil products from bituminous materials (other than calcined oil coke) is reduced from USD 71.8 to USD 63.4 per ton.
      The Decision is entered into force from April 1, 2007.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 183n of December 26, 2006 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Procedure of Implementation by the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring of Control of Execution by Organisations Carrying out Operations with Monetary Resources and Other Property Where Enforcement Bodies Are Not Available of the Federal Law No. 115-FZ of August 7, 2001 on the Combating of Legalisation (Laundering ) of Incomes Obtained in a Criminal Way and Financing of Terrorism

Federal Service for Financial Monitoring is the body in charge of control and enforcement of execution of the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation on the combating of legalisation (laundering) of incomes obtained in a criminal way and financing of terrorism.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 14, 2007. Reg. No. 9109.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-04-07-01/16 of January 26, 2007

The right of a taxpayer for the professional tax exemption for the incomes from natural persons in the amount of actually made and documentarily confirmed expenses directly associated with the obtained incomes is not restricted by any conditions and does not require a special confirmation.

Federal Law No. 38-FZ of March 23, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 217 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

According to the introduced amendments, an exemption of the incomes tax from natural persons applies to amounts obtained by taxpayers in the form of grants (gratuitous aid) provided to support science and education, culture and arts in the Russian Federation by Russian organisations. The list of such organisations will be endorsed by the Government of the Russian Federation.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2008, however, no sooner than one month after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 37-FZ of March 23, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 3 and 26 of the Federal Law on the Specially Protected Natural Territories and Article 26.3 of the Federal Law on the General Principles of Organisation of Legislative (Representative) and Executive Bodies of State Power of the Subjects of the Russian Federation

The adopted Law delimits the authority of the federal and regional bodies of state power in the sphere of organisation and functioning of the specially protected natural territories.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 372 of March 20, 2007 on the Amendments to the General Principles of Service Conduct of State Servants Endorsed by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 885 of August 12, 2002

Extends the list of general principles of service conduct of state servants endorsed by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 885 of August 12, 2002.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 403 of March 21, 2007 on the Amendments to Some of the Acts of the President of the Russian Federation on the State Management in the Sphere of Migration Policy

Delimits the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the Federal Migration Service of Russia in the sphere of migration.
      In particular, the sphere of reference of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia does not include now the function of implementation of the state policy and the normative-and-legal regulation in the sphere of migration. The mentioned functions are handed over to the Federal Migration Service of Russia. According to the amendments, the Ministry is only working out the state policy in the sphere of migration.
      The Decree is entered into force from the day of its signing.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 169 of March 21, 2007 on the Procedure of Carrying out of Conversion Operations "Debt in Exchange for Commodities and/or Services" Pertaining to Redemption and Servicing of the External State Debt of the Russian Federation

Endorses the rules regulating the procedure and terms of carrying out of conversion operations "debt in exchange for commodities and/or services" pertaining to the redemption and servicing of the state external debt of the Russian Federation and their financing at the expense of resources of the federal budget, as well as activities of the federal bodies of executive power and the Foreign Trade Bank carried out in the course of these operations according to the agreements between the Russian Federation and the creditor countries on the implementation of the conversion operations.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 10n of February 8, 2007 on the Amendments to the List of Information on the Labelled Alcoholic Products Entered in the Special Federal Stamps for Reading in the Technical Means of the Joint State Automatic Information System of Registration of the Volume of Production and Circulation of Ethyl Alcohol, Alcoholic and Alcohol-Containing Products and the Format of the Entered Information Endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 3n of January 13, 2006

The introduced amendments pertain to the composition of information entered in the form of a two-dimensional bar code on the special federal stamps used for labelling of alcoholic products.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 22, 2007. Reg. No. 9129.

Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation No. 84 of February 13, 2007 on the Organisation of Works to Issue Import Quarantine Permissions

Endorses the procedure of organisation of works of the Federal Service of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Enforcement to issue import quarantine permissions for the import to the territory of the Russian Federation of products (materials, cargo) subject to quarantine measures.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 21, 2007. Reg. No. 9127.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-07-15/31 of March 7, 2007

From January 1, 2007 introduces the norm of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation stating that in commodity exchange operations, offsetting of mutual claims, use of securities for payments, the amount of tax put forward by the taxpayer to the buyer of commodities (works, services, proprietary rights) is paid to the taxpayer on the basis of the payment order for transfer of monetary resources. The Letter explains the procedure of determination of the amount of value added tax due for exemption with the buyers of commodities (works, services, proprietary rights) in cashless forms of payments.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 168 of March 21, 2007 on the Amendments to Some of the Decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation on the Issues of Electric Power Industry

Introduces a series of amendments to individual decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation regulating the issues in the sphere of electric power industry. The amendments correct the procedure of collection of payment for connection to power supply networks to regulate collection of payment by network companies for connection of consumers and producers of electric power.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-13/pz-n of February 8, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Composition and Structure of Assets of Joint-Stock Investment Funds and Assets of Shared Investment Funds

Introduces new requirements to the composition and structure of assets of joint-stock investment funds and assets of shared investment funds.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 22, 2007. Reg. No. 9158.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-07-05/11 of March 13, 2007

The Ministry of Finance describes its position on the issue of application by the bank of the value added tax when they get penalties for the violation of the terms of safe lease contracts.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 08-17/648 of February 22, 2007 on the Issues of Application of the Direction No. 1725-U

According to the rules of accounting work in credit organisations, the mentioned organisations carry out conversion operations for client natural persons in cases of purchase and sale of foreign currencies in cashless form using the client bank accounts, and in cases of purchase and sale of foreign currencies in cash - through the currency exchange offices. When the client natural person carries out operations using a pre-paid card, the bank account is not opened. There emerges an obligation with the credit organisation to execute the demand of the card holder in the currency of purchase. In this connection, the holder of the pre-paid card does not have legal opportunities to give an order to the credit organisation to change the currency of the obligation having emerged at the moment of purchase of the pre-paid card by the natural person.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 3-P of March 21, 2007 on the Case of Constitutionality of a Number of Provisions of Article 6 and 15 of the Federal Constitutional Law on the Referendum of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Appeal of Citizens V.I.Lakeyev, V.G.Solovyev and V.D.Ulas

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised as complying with the Constitution of the Russian Federation the provision of Item 6 of Part 5 of Article 6 of the Federal Constitutional Law on the referendum of the Russian Federation stating that the issues of adoption and amending of the federal budget may not be put forward for the referendum.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 178 of March 24, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Coordination of the Draft Schemes of Territorial Planning of the Subjects of the Russian Federation and the Draft Documents of Territorial Planning of Municipal Formations

According to the City Planning Code of the Russian Federation, the draft schemes of territorial planning of the subject of the Russian Federation and the draft documents of territorial planning of a municipal formation must be coordinated if the proposals available in the mentioned draft documents suggest changing of existing or planned according to the documents of territorial planning of the Russian Federation (subjects of the Russian Federation) borders of the lands of the forest fund, borders of the lands of defence and security destination, borders of the lands of the specially protected natural territorial of federal or regional significance, borders of the land plots owned by the Russian Federation (subjects of the Russian Federation), borders of the territories of objects of cultural heritage, borders of zones of planned objects of capital construction of federal or regional significance. Coordination also applies in cases of location of objects of capital construction of regional or local significanc e if they imply a negative impact on the environment on the mentioned lands, territories and land plots.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation No. ChD-6-09/167@ of March 9, 2007 on the Explanations in Addition to the Letter of the Federal Tax Service of Russia No. ChD-6-09/75@ of February 5, 2007

In addition to the Letter of the Federal Tax Service of Russia No. ChD-6-09/75@ of February 5, 2007, provides explanations on the filling of the form of the bank report of the opening (closing) of account, change of account requisites endorsed by the Order of the Federal Tax Service of Russia No. SAE-3-09/861@ of December 13, 2006.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. 18-0-09/0070 of February 15, 2007

Confirms the legality of demanding from the accountant (another person) submitting accounting and tax reports to the tax body to present a proxy confirming the authority of the mentioned person for participation in the legal tax relations.

Information Letter of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 117 of March 13, 2007 on Individual Issues of the Practice of Application of Chapter 25.3 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

The Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation examines individual issues of payment of the state duty for the cases processed in arbitration courts.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 4-P of March 22, 2007 on the Case of Constitutionality of the Provision of Part 1 of Article 15 of the Federal Law on the Budget of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2002 Pursuant to the Appeal of Citizen T.A.Banykina

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation recognised as unconstitutional the norm on the maximum amount of the maternity allowance, the amount making at present Rbl 16,125.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 185 of March 27, 2007 on the Amendments to the Rules of Sale of Individual Types of Commodities

Amends the rules of sale of individual types of commodities endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 55 of January 19, 1998. According to the amendments, the prohibition of retail trade through vending stands and kiosks applies not only to audio and video pieces, phonograms, but also to copies of computer programs and databases.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 183 of March 27, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Coefficient of Indexing of the Estimated Pension Capital of the Insured

From April 1, 2007, the coefficient of indexing of the estimated pension capital of the insured as of January 1, 2006 is fixed in the amount of 1.16.
      The Decision is entered into force from April 1, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 181 of March 27, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Coefficient of Indexing from April 1, 2007 of the Basic Part of the Labour Pension and the Coefficient of Additional Increase from April 1, 2007 of the Amount of the Insured Part of the Labour Pension

From April 1, 2007, the coefficient of indexing of the basic part of the labour pension is fixed in the amount of 1.075 (the previous coefficient fixed as of April 1, 2006 amounted to 1.085).
      The coefficient of additional increase of the amount of the insured part of the labour pension makes 1.092 (in the previous year, 1.063 respectively).
      The Decision is entered into force from April 1, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 176 of March 24, 2007 on the Labour Remuneration for the Employees of the Federal State Bodies Occupying Positions Not Being the Ones of the Federal State Civil Service

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 763 of July 25, 2006 introduced new amounts of monthly salaries and the monthly monetary incentives for all categories of the federal state civil servants, as well as the salaries for the class grade used from January 1, 2006. In this connection, the Government of the Russian Federation is ordered to adjust the labour remuneration of employees occupying positions not being the ones of the federal state civil servants.
      The Decision is entered into force from the date of official publication and applies to legal relations emerging from January 1, 2007.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1803-U of March 26, 2007 on the Amendments to the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1376-U of January 16, 2004 on the List, Forms and Procedure of Drawing up and Submission of the Forms of Reports of Credit Organisations to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation

Amends 7 forms of reports (0409051, 0409052, 0409135, 0409345, 0409401, 0409652 and 0409904) and 12 procedures of drawing up and submission of reports (0409115, 0409135, 0409153, 0409301, 0409345, 0409401, 0409601, 0409664, 0409665, 0409806, 0409807 and the General Procedure of Filling of the Forms of Reports 901, 902, 904, 906, 907, 908, 909).
      The Direction is entered into force from April 1, 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 29, 2007. Reg. No. 9168.

Letter of the Federal Service of Labour and Employment No. 472-6-0 of March 1, 2007

Explains the issue of legality of paying out of employee earnings once a month.

Official Report of the State Corporation "Deposit Insurance Agency" of March 23, 2007

According to the actual legislation on the insurance of deposits of natural persons in the banks of the Russian Federation, the Board of Directors of the state corporation "Deposit Insurance Agency" is entitled to fix the rate of insurance contributions of banks to the Fund of Obligatory Insurance of Deposits. From July 1, 2007, the mentioned rate is fixed in the amount of 0.13 percent of the estimated base for the estimated period (calendar quarter of the year).

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 191 of March 29, 2007 on the Amendment to Item 1 of the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 554 of September 7, 2005

According to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 554 of September 7, 2005 on the limiting levels of insurance tariff rates for the insurance of liabilities of the specialised depositary and management companies, their structure and rules of application by insurers in the determination of the amount of the insurance premium under the contract of insurance of liabilities, the amount of the insurance premium is determined proceeding from the insured amount, amount of insurance tariff rate and the insured period.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 182 of March 27, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Index of Growth of the Average Monthly Earnings in the Russian Federation for the Year 2006 and the Index of Growth of Incomes of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation Per Pensioner Earmarked to Pay out the Insured Part of the Labour Pensions for the Year 2006

According the Federal Law on labour pensions in the Russian Federation, an additional reason for the indexing of the insured part of the labour pension is an excess of the annual index of growth of the average monthly earnings in the country over the total coefficient of indexing of the insured part of the pension in the same year (the indexing applies from April 1 of the following year). The additional increase of the amount of the insured part of the labour pension (taking into account the earlier indexing of the mentioned part of the labour pension) may not be greater than the index of growth of incomes of the Pension Fund of Russia per pensioner allocated for the paying out of the insured part of the labour pension.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 172 of March 21, 2007 on the Federal Targeted Program "Children of Russia" for the Years 2007-2010

To create conditions to improve the quality of life and health of children, endorses the federal targeted program "Children of Russia" for the years 2007-2010 including subprograms "Healthy Generation", "Gifted Children", "Children and the Family".

Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 376-r of March 29, 2007

Endorses a new list of vital and most important medicines. The previous list endorsed by the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2343 of December 29, 2005 is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 195 of March 31, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Granting Subsidies from the Federal Budget to the Budgets of the Subjects of the Russian Federation to Reimburse Part of the Cost of Investment Projects to Provide Communal Infrastructure for the Land Plots in the Course of Low-Storey Housing Construction for Citizens Recognised before March 1, 2005 As Needing Improvement of Housing Conditions

Specifies the procedure and terms of granting subsidies from the federal budget to the bodies of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation and the bodies of local government being participants of the subprogram "Providing Communal Infrastructure for the Land Plots for the Purposes of Housing Construction" of the federal targeted program "Housing" for the years 2002-2010.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 109 of February 19, 2007 on the Amendments to the Procedure of Sale of Medicines Endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 785 of December 14, 2005

Adjusts general requirements to the sale of medicines by apothecary institutions.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 30, 2007. Reg. No. 9198.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1792-U of February 20, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 225-P of May 6, 2003 on the Guide of Bank Identification Codes of Participants of Payments Making Payments through the Payment Network of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)

In view of the changing of the organisational structure of the Bank of Russia, introduces appropriate corrections to the procedure of generation of the Guide of the Bank Identification Codes of participants of payments making payments through the payment network of the Central Bank 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 March 30, 2007. Reg. No. 9197.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 15n of February 12, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 29n of March 3, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Water Tax and Its Filling Procedure

The form and the filling procedure of the tax declaration for the water tax are being brought in compliance with the Tax Code of the Russian Federation.
      The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax declaration for the water tax for the I quarter of 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 30, 2007. Reg. No. 9196.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1806-U of March 26, 2007 on the Invalidation of 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 and the Directions of the Bank of Russia 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 No. 1294-U of June 20, 2003, No. 1340-U of November 5, 2003, No. 1382-U of February 2, 2004, No. 1399-U of March 24, 2004, No. 1437-U of June 7, 2004, No. 1447-U of June 11, 2004, No. 1455-U of June 25, 2004, No. 1484-U of August 9, 2004, No. 1518-U of November 19, 2004, No. 1531-U of December 17, 2004, No. 1571-U of April 11, 2005, No. 1757-U of December 11, 2006

In pursuance of the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 302-P of March 26, 2007, introduces new rules of accounting work in credit organisations located on the territory of the Russian Federation.
      The Direction is entered into force from January 1, 2008 except for the above provisions of the earlier endorsed rules loosing force from September 1, 2008.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 30, 2007. Reg. No. 9194.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 302-P of March 26, 2007 on the Rules of Accounting Work in Credit Organisations Located on the Territory of the Russian Federation

Introduces new rules of accounting work in credit organisations located on the territory of the Russian Federation to be entered into force from January 1, 2008.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 29, 2007. Reg. No. 9176.

Federal Law No. 40-FZ of March 29, 2007 on the Dissolution of Some of the Regional Courts of the Ryazan Province

Dissolves the Yermishinsky, Pitelinsky, Putyatinsky and the Chuchkovsky regional courts of the Ryazan Province while handing over their jurisdiction to the Kadomsky, Sasovsky, Shatsky and the Shilovsky regional courts of the Ryazan Province respectively. The need for the reform is stipulated by insufficient number of federal judges in the above courts.

Federal Law No. 39-FZ of March 29, 2007 on the Amendments to the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation

The improve the discipline of military drivers as participants of highway traffic, extends the authority of officials of the military highway traffic inspection.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 197 of March 31, 2007 on the Amendments to Some of the Decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation on the Functioning of the Joint State Automatic Information System of Registration of the Volume of Production and Circulation of Ethyl Alcohol, Alcoholic and Alcohol-Containing Products

Individual amendments are introduced since the function of the state ordering party in charge of development and modernisation of the software of the Joint State Automatic Information System is vested in the Federal Tax Service of Russia.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-04-07-02/9 of March 20, 2007 "Reply to the Request of the Federal Tax Service of Russia on the Issue of Payment of the Uniform Social Tax"

Explains individual issues pertaining to taxation with the uniform social tax of individual amounts of payments and compensations.

Decision of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 13377/06 of February 20, 2007

The Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation recognised that the amount of replacement expenses for the purpose of paying out of the insurance reimbursement under the obligatory insurance of civil liabilities of owners of transport vehicles must be determined less depreciation of vehicle parts.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1813-U of March 30, 2007

From April 1, 2007, the fixed interest rate for the deposit operations of the Bank of Russia carried out with credit organisations in the currency of the Russian Federation using the Reuters Dealing System and the system of electronic tenders of the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange on standard terms "tom next", "spot next", "on demand" amounts to 2.5% annual, and on standard terms "one week", "spot week" - 3.0% annual.

Information Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 11 of March 26, 2007 "Summary of the Practice of Application of the Federal Law on the Combating of Legalisation (Laundering) of Incomes Obtained in a Criminal Way and Financing of Terrorism and the Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia Adopted in Pursuance of It

An operation of entry of money on the account (deposit) or writing off from the account (deposit) of a legal entity whose period of activities is not greater than three months from the day of its registration is subject to obligatory control if the amount of it is equal to or greater than Rbl 600,000 or foreign currency equivalent. The first day of the mentioned three-months period is the day of the entry of the record of the state registration of the legal entity in the state register by the body in charge of registration.

Letter of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-OB-03/5724 of March 22, 2007 on the Payment for Stocks with Foreign Currencies

From January 1, 2007, abandons the rule requiring to make monetary payments between residents and non-residents in operations with internal securities in the currency of the Russian Federation if otherwise is not specified by the Central Bank of Russia.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 14n of February 9, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Strict-Reporting Form

Endorses the form of the slip of payment for the services of gasification and gas supplies. The form is intended for cash payments and/or payments using pay cards for the services rendered to the population. The mentioned strict-reporting form is equal to the cash slip, therefore cash registers are not necessary.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 2, 2007. Reg. No. 9203.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 47 of March 9, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 5 of January 12, 2004

Pursuant to the renaming of the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Justice of Russia, as well as the forming of the new structural division within it - Department of the Draft Legislation and Registration of Agency Normative Acts - introduces appropriate amendments to the explanations on the application of the Regulation on the procedure of keeping of the Federal Register of Normative Legal Acts of the Subjects of the Russian Federation (endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Justice of Russia No. 5 of January 12, 2004).
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on March 30, 2007. Reg. No. 9202.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 32-T of March 27, 2007 on the Recommendations on the Organisation of Interaction of Territorial Institutions of the Bank of Russia and Credit Organisations (Branches) with Automatic System "Central Catalogue of Credit Histories"

According the Federal Law on credit histories, the Central Catalogue of Credit Histories is a division of the Bank of Russia keeping the database created to find credit history bureaus storing credit histories of subjects of credit histories. The credit history subject (credit history user) may get information on the credit history bureaus applying with a request in writing to any credit organisation (parent office, branch or additional office of the credit organisation).

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 5-P of April 5, 2007 on the Case of Constitutionality of Provisions of Items 2 and 14 of Article 15 of the Federal Law on the Status of Servicemen and Item 8 of the Rules of Issue and Redemption of the State Housing Certificates in the Framework of Implementation of Subprogram "State Housing Certificates" for the Years 2004-2010 Forming Part of the Federal Targeted Program "Housing" for the Years 2002-2010 Pursuant to the Appeals of a Number of Citizens

The Constitutional Court recognised as not complying with the Constitution of the Russian Federation the provisions of the Federal Law on the status of servicemen pertaining to housing support for citizens having fulfilled the duties of military service under the contract, having registered as needing improvement of housing conditions before January 1, 2005 in the municipal formations and dismissed from the military service until January 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 201 of April 6, 2007 on the Paying out in 2007 to Individual Categories of Citizens of the Russian Federation of the Preliminary Compensation (Compensation) for the Deposits in the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation

Endorses the rules of paying out in 2007 to individual categories of citizens of the Russian Federation of the preliminary compensation (compensation) for the deposits in the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation defining the procedure of paying out of the preliminary compensation for the deposits as of June 20, 1991.

Decision of the Plenum of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 17 of March 12, 2007 on the Application of the Code of Arbitration Procedures of the Russian Federation When Reviewing because of the Newly Revealed Circumstances the Court Rulings Having Entered into Force

The newly revealed circumstances permit to review the rulings of the first instance arbitration court, decisions of the arbitration courts of the appellate and cassation instances, as well as the decisions of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court after their entry in legal force. If the arbitration court of the appellate or cassation instance or the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation left unchanged the challenged court ruling or left in force one of the court rulings adopted earlier in the case, the revision because of the newly revealed circumstances of the challenged court ruling left unchanged or left in force rests with the court having adopted this decision.

Order of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation No. 70 of February 15, 2007 on the Increase of Salaries for the Occupied Position for the Civilian Personnel of Individual Bodies of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

According to the actual legislation on the state civil service in the Russian Federation, amounts of salaries of monetary subsistence for the positions of the federal state civil service are subject to the annual indexing taking into account the level of inflation.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 5, 2007. Reg. No. 9237.

Order of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation No. 71 of February 21, 2007 on the Organisation in the Bodies of the Federal Security Service of Work to Draw up and Issue Certificates for the Right of Benefits, the Specimens Being Endorsed before January 1, 1992

According to the actual legislation, the grounds for the measures of social support for the veterans of various categories is the certificate of the right for benefits.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 5, 2007. Reg. No. 9237.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 7n/07-10/pz-n of February 1, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Assessment of the Cost of Net Assets of Insurance Organisations Created in the Form of Joint-Stock Companies

Introduces a new procedure of assessment of the cost of net assets of insurance organisations created in the form of joint-stock companies. The cost of net assets is implied to be the value determined by subtracting the amount of liabilities included in the estimate from the amount of assets of the joint-stock company included in the estimate. In other words, the subject matter is the real cost of the property available with the company which is determined annually less debts. Assessment of the cost of net assets is carried out to determine the liquidity of the insurance organisation.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 5, 2007. Reg. No. 9235.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 16n of February 19, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 66n of May 19, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Estimate for the Advance Payments for the Land Tax and Its Filling Recommendations

Corrects the form of the tax estimate for the advance payments for the land tax, as well as its filling recommendations.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 4, 2007. Reg. No. 9228.

Letter of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 02-13/07-1985 of March 14, 2007

As to the inclusion of bonuses in the determination of the average earnings for the calculation of the temporary disability allowance in January 2006, explains that in the mentioned case, the average earnings include all types of payments envisaged in the labour remuneration system including bonuses and awards accrued in the estimate period.

Federal Law No. 46-FZ of April 9, 2007 on the Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

The terminology of Articles 11, 252 and 253 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is being brought in compliance with the terminology used in the UN Convention on the law of the sea of 1982 and the Federal Laws on the internal sea waters, territorial sea and the adjacent zone of the Russian Federation, on the continental shelf of the Russian Federation and on the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation.

Federal Law No. 45-FZ of April 9, 2007 on the Amendments to the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation

The amendments enhance administrative responsibility for the violations of the antimonopoly legislation.
      The Federal Law is entered into force 30 days after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 44-FZ of April 9, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 10.6 and 10.8 of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation

The amendments increase amounts of administrative fines for the violation of the rules of animal quarantine or veterinary-and-sanitary rules of transportation or slaughter of animals or the rules of processing, storage or sale of products of animal breeding, as well as other veterinary-and-sanitary rules.

Federal Law No. 42-FZ of April 9, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 146 and 180 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

The amendments increase the maximum punishment for the crimes (violation of the copyright and adjacent rights) envisaged in Articles 146 and 180 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation from 5 to 6 years of imprisonment. Besides, the maximum amount of fine for the illegal use of the trade mark is increased from Rbl 300,000 to Rbl 500,000.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 203 of April 6, 2007 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 250 of April 28, 2006

Amends the rules of granting subsidies from the federal budget to the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation for the measures of improvement of housing conditions of citizens living in rural arrears endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 250 of April 28, 2006.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 36-T of April 3, 2007 on the Rouble Equivalents of the Figures Used in the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1755-U of December 11, 2006

In the II quarter of 2007, the rouble equivalent of the minimum amount of the registered capital of the newly registered bank must make Rbl 173.322 million, newly registered non-bank credit organisation - Rbl 17.3322 million.
      The rouble equivalent of the minimum amount of own resources (capital) of the bank (including the one requesting the general license), as well as a non-bank credit organisation requesting the status of a bank must make Rbl 173.322 million.

Decision of the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation No. 8 of March 6, 2007 on the Enhancing of Enforcement of Production and Circulation of Nutrient Additives

There are about 6,000 nutrient additives in circulation on the territory of the Russian Federation at present forming a source of nutrients and biologically active components, vitamins and micronutrients.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 9, 2007. Reg. No. 9267.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MM-3-06/106@ of March 6, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Documents Used by Tax Bodies in the Course of Implementation of Their Authority in Relations Regulated by the Legislation on Taxes and Fees

Endorses the forms of the following documents used by the tax bodies in the course of implementation of the tax control: decision on suspension of the on-site tax check, decision on the renewal of the on-site tax check, act of failure to provide access to officials of the tax body carrying out the check to the territory or rooms of the checked entity, decision of the prolongation or refusal to prolong the deadline for submission of documents, decision of postponement of the processing of materials of the tax check because of the absence of persons necessary for their processing.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 5, 2007. Reg. No. 9259.

Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 430 of April 4, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Register of Banks and Other Credit Organisations

Endorses a new register of banks and other credit organisations whose bank guarantees are accepted as a security for the customs payments collected by the tax bodies, as well as observation of the requirements of the customs legislation of the Russian Federation.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 43-T of April 5, 2007 on the Registration of Subsidies and Resources Provided in 2007 from the Budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance to the Territorial Funds of Obligatory Medical Insurance and Public Health Institutions for Additional Medical Examinations of Citizens and Initial Medical and Sanitary Aid

The subsidies provided in 2007 from the budget of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance to the territorial funds of obligatory medical insurance for additional medical examinations of citizens and initial medical and sanitary aid are registered on separate accounts with the sign "01" in the 15th and 16th digits of the number of the account opened in 2006 on the balance accounts 40403 and 40404 respectively.

Federal Law No. 41-FZ of April 9, 2007 on the Execution of the Federal Budget for the Year 2005

Endorses the report of execution of the federal budget for the year 2005 with incomes amounting to Rbl 5,127,228,933.9 thousand and expenses amounting to Rbl 3,514,347,654.1 thousand, the surplus of incomes over expenses being Rbl 1,612,881,279.8 thousand.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 217 of April 10, 2007 on the Measures to Protect Russian Producers of Mechanical Engineering Fixtures

Introduces for 5 years an antidumping duty for mechanical engineering fixtures (bolts and nuts) made by cold or hot deformation (nuts with nominal thread diameters from 20 to 30 mm inclusive) with subsequent threading in cold condition originating in the Ukraine and classified under the codes of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 7318 15 810 0, 7318 16 100 0, 7318 16 910 9, 7318 16 990 0 in the amount of 21.8% 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. 215 of April 10, 2007 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation and the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 795 of December 23, 2006 for Timber - Coniferous and Non-Coniferous of Birch-Tree and Asp

Reduces to zero the export customs duties for timber of birch-tree and asp cut lengthwise (code of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 4407 99 980 1), as well as for coniferous timber with shaping on any edge, whether or not planed or sanded, with or without end joints (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 4409 10 180 0), exported outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements.
      The Decision is entered into force 2 months after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 49-FZ of April 12, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 6 of the Federal Law on the Audit Chamber of the Russian Federation

Refines the procedure of nomination of auditors of the Audit Chamber assigned to their position by the Council of the Federation and the State Duma. The chambers of the Federal Assembly shall assign the auditors at the presentation of the President of the Russian Federation. If the candidate is rejected, the President may nominate him anew or choose another one.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 48-FZ of April 12, 2007 on the Amendments to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pertaining to the Requirements to the Monetary Figures

Amends the Federal Laws 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, on the state civil service of the Russian Federation envisaging that the monetary figures are indicated by the member of the Council of the Federation, deputy of the State Duma in compliance with the requirements specified in the legislation of the Russian Federation, regulations on the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the state servants being obliged to indicate the monetary figures in compliance with the requirements specified in the federal laws, decrees of the President of the Russian Federation.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from July 1, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 205 of April 7, 2007 on the Amendments to Some of the Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation on the Determination of the Volumes of Sale of Electric Power at Free (Non-Regulated) Prices

The amendments to the Decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 529 of August 31, 2006, No. 643 of October 24, 2003, No. 109 of February 26, 2004 define clearly the shares of electric power to be supplied from January 1, 2007 at regulated prices (tariff rates) at the wholesale market. From January 1, 2011, electric power will be supplied at free (non-regulated prices) in full amount.
      The Decision is entered into force from the date of official publication.

Letter of the Federal Agency for Construction and the Housing-and-Communal Sector No. SK-1394/02 of April 9, 2007 on the Prices for Design and Survey Works in Construction for the II Quarter of 2007

In the II quarter of 2007, the recommended index of change of the cost of design works to the level of basic prices as of January 1, 2001 is equal to 2.23 and to 17.21 to the level of basic prices as of January 1, 1995 (in the previous quarter, 2.19 and 16, 92 respectively).

Letter of the Federal Agency for Construction and the Housing-and-Communal Sector No. SK-1395/02 of April 9, 2007 on the Indices of Change of the Estimated Cost for the II Quarter of 2007

Defines the indices of change of the estimated cost of construction and installation works on the whole and by items of expenses for the II quarter of 2007 for the subjects of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 226 of April 14, 2007 on the Interim Rates of Import Customs Duties for Motor Gasolines

Reduces for 9 months from 5% to 10% of the customs cost the rates of the import customs duties for individual aviation gasolines.
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 225 of April 14, 2007 on the Interim Rate of the Import Customs Duty for Adhesive Paper and Paperboard

Reduces from 15% to 5% of the customs cost the rate of the import customs duty for adhesive paper and paperboard (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 4811 41 900 0). The rate is introduced for 9 months.
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 26n of March 26, 2007 on the Amendments to the Normative Legal Acts on Accounting Work

The amendments introduced in the Regulation on accounting work and accounting reports exclude from the list of methods of assessment of reserves used to determine the actual net cost of material reserves written off into production the LIFO method (the net cost of the last purchased).
      The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2008.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 12, 2007. Reg. No. 9285.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 100 of March 23, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Issue of the Permission for the Re-Export of Commodities Originating on the Territory of the Russian Federation for Other Member-States of the Eurasia Economic Community, the Form of the Permission for the Re-Export of Commodities, As Well As the Form of the Application for the Re-Export of Commodities and Its Filling Rules

Defines the rules of issue of permissions for the re-export of commodities originating on the territory of the Russian Federation included in the list of commodities requiring a re-export permission.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 12, 2007. Reg. No. 9282.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-23/pz-n of March 13, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Assigning of the State Registration Numbers to Issues (Additional Issues) of Emission Securities

Endorses a new procedure of assigning of numbers to the issues (additional issues) of emission securities subject to the state registration regardless of the type of issuer, including the issues (additional issues) of securities of credit and insurance organisations, issues (additional issues) of foreign issuers, including the international financial organisations.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 11, 2007. Reg. No. 9277.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-25/pz-n of March 15, 2007 on the Endorsement of the List of Securities of International Financial Organisations That May Form Part of the Pension Reserves of a Non-State Pension Fund

The mentioned securities shall include the bonds of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 11, 2007. Reg. No. 9276.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 56 of February 26, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Nomenclature of Commodities Defining the Classes of Commodities (for the Purpose of Determination of the Types of Retail Trade Market-Places)

Proceeding from the endorsed nomenclature, the retail trade market-place may be qualified as a multi-purpose one (if less than 80% of the vendor positions at such market-place from their total number is intended for commodities of one class) and a specialised one (if the mentioned number of vendor positions is greater than 80%).
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 11, 2007. Reg. No. 9275.

Federal Law No. 51-FZ of April 12, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 7 of the Federal Law on the Combating of Legalisation (Laundering) of Incomes Obtained in a Criminal Way and Financing of Terrorism

The amendments provide for a uniform approach to the normative and legal regulation of activities of organisations carrying out operations with monetary resources or another property, as well as protection of rights and legal interests of their clients.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. SK-6-11/318@ of April 17, 2007 on the Information Necessary for the Calculation of the Tax on Extraction of Mineral Resources for Oil for March 2007

From January 1, 2007, the tax rate for extraction of mineral resources making Rbl 419 per ton of extracted oil - dry, desalted and stabilised - is multiplied by the coefficient characterising the dynamics of the world prices for oil and by the coefficient characterising the degree of development of the particular deposit of subsoil resources.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service and the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation No. GV-8-10/173@/07-1142 of March 12, 2007 on the Amendments to the Letter of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia and the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation No. FS-8-10/1199/04-5198 of September 10, 2001 on the New Blank Forms of Payment Documents for Natural Person Taxpayers to Transfer Taxes (Fees), Penalties and Fines to the Budget System of the Russian Federation: Form PD (Tax) and Form PD-4sb (Tax) (with Amendments Introduced by the Letter of the Federal Tax Service of Russia and the Savings Bank of Russia No. MM-6-10/143/07-125В of February 18, 2005)

From April 1, 2007, introduces new blank forms of payment documents to be used by natural persons in payments with the budgets of all levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation to transfer taxes (fees), penalties and fines through separate structural divisions of the Savings Bank of Russia.
      The mentioned amendments are entered into force from April 1, 2007.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1816-U of April 10, 2007 on the Adjustment of Individual Acts of the Bank of Russia

Invalidates the procedure of submission to the Bank of Russia of the report of available unsatisfied claims of individual creditors in monetary obligations and the failure to execute the duty to pay obligatory payments because of absence or insufficiency of monetary resources on correspondent accounts of the credit organisation (endorsed by the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 620-U of August 4, 1999).
      The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Order of the Central Bank of Russia No. OD-275 of April 12, 2007 on the Correction Coefficients of the Bank of Russia

Applies correction coefficient 0.8 for the bonds of the Republic of Bashkortostan with the state registration number of issue RU25005BAS0 and the bonds of the Republic of Komi of the years 2004 and 2005 with the state registration numbers of issues RU35007КOM0 and RU35008КOM0.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 49-T of April 12, 2007 on the Inclusion of Securities in the Lombard List of the Bank of Russia

The Lombard List of the Bank of Russia shall include individual issues of the bonds of the Moscow province internal loans of 2006, the bonds of Gazprom, Lukoil, Gazprombank, bank Moscow Mortgage Agency, SIBUR Holding, Federal Network Company of the Joint Power Supply System and the bank Delta Credit.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 234 of April 14, 2007 on the Invalidation of Some of the Acts of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR, the Government of the Russian Federation and on Invalidation on the Territory of the Russian Federation of Some of the Acts of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and the Council of Ministers of the USSR on Communication Issues

To further improve the legislation on communication, invalidates some of the acts of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR and the Government of the Russian Federation, as well as invalidates on the territory of the Russian Federation the acts of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and the Council of Ministers of the USSR on communication issues.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-02-07/2-69 of April 13, 2007

The Ministry of Finance supports the position whereby the beginning of the cameral tax check is associated with the presence of two simultaneous conditions, namely, submission by the taxpayer of the tax declaration (estimate) and submission of the necessary documents attached to the declaration in cases envisaged in the Tax Code. Calculation of the time limit of the cameral tax check begins with the day when the tax declaration (estimate) and the last of the mentioned documents are submitted to the tax body.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. 04-2-03/7 of February 1, 2007 on the Taxation of Incomes Obtained from Sale of Stocks

The legislation envisages a three-year period of possession of securities as a prerequisite enough for the incomes from sale of such stocks obtained in 2002-2006 to be exempted from the incomes tax from natural persons through the granted proprietary tax exemption in the full amount of incomes obtained from the sale of such stocks.

Federal Law No. 62-FZ of April 20, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 29 of the Federal Law on the Main Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in the Referendum of Citizens of the Russian Federation

The chairman of the election commission of the subject of the Russian Federation must have a higher professional education (earlier, a higher legal education or a scientific degree in law).

Federal Law No. 61-FZ of April 20, 2007 on the Ratification of the Protocol between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Amendments to the Treaty between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Leasing of Objects and Combat Fields of the 929th State Flight Testing Centre of the Russian Federation Located on the Territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan of October 18, 1996

Ratifies the Protocol signed in Moscow on November 25, 2005.

Federal Law No. 60-FZ of April 20, 2007 on the Ratification of the Protocol between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Amendments to the Treaty between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Leasing of the Testing Grounds of Sary-Shagan of October 18, 1996

Ratifies the Protocol singed in Moscow on November 25, 2005.

Federal Law No. 59-FZ of April 20, 2007 on the Ratification of the Protocol between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Amendments to the Treaty between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Leasing of the Testing Grounds of Emba of October 18, 1996

Ratifies the Protocol signed in Moscow on November 25, 2005.

Federal Law No. 58-FZ of April 20, 2007 on the Ratification of the Protocol between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Amendments to the Treaty between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Leasing of Objects and Combat Fields of the 4th State Central Testing Grounds of the Russian Federation Located on the Territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan of October 18, 1996

Ratifies the Protocol signed in Moscow on November 25, 2005.

Federal Law No. 57-FZ of April 20, 2007 on the Amendments to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

Provides a new wording for Article 59 of the Federal Law on the fauna stating that withdrawn or confiscated objects of fauna must be returned to their environment.
      The Federal Law on the fishing and preservation of aquatic biological resources is extended to include Article 54 introducing the same requirement.

Federal Law No. 56-FZ of April 20, 2007 on the Amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on the Education, Federal Law on the Higher and Post-Graduate Professional Education and Article 2 of the Federal Law on the Amendments to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Improving Delimitation of Authority

The amendments improve legislative regulation of the authority of the Russian Federation and the subjects of the Russian Federation pertaining to licensing and state accreditation of educational institutions and scientific organisations.

Federal Law No. 55-FZ of April 20, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 26 of the Federal Law on the State Regulation of Production and Circulation of Ethyl Alcohol, Alcoholic and Alcohol-Containing Products

Suspends until July 1, 2007 the norm prohibiting production and circulation of denatured alcohol or denatured alcohol-containing products failing to comply with the list and concentration of denaturing agents specified in the law or violating the procedure of their use.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 54-FZ of April 20, 2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Minimum Amount of Labour Remuneration and Other Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

From September 1, 2007, the minimum amount of labour remuneration is increased to Rbl 2,300.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from September 1, 2007.

Order of the Federal Fund of Obligatory Medical Insurance No. 56 of March 21, 2007 on the Amendments to the Typical Rules of Obligatory Medical Insurance of Citizens

Insurants for the working citizens are organisations, natural persons registered as independent entrepreneurs, private notaries, lawyers, natural persons having concluded labour contracts with employees, as well as paying out rewards under civil contracts subject to taxes due to the funds of obligatory medical insurance in compliance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 18, 2007. Reg. No. 9295.

Federal Law No. 53-FZ of April 20, 2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Placing of Orders for Supplies of Commodities, Carrying out Works, Rendering Services for the State and Municipal Needs and to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

The Federal Law on the placing of orders for supplies of commodities, carrying out works, rendering services for the state and municipal needs does not apply in the cases of services rendered by international financial organisations created under international treaties where the Russian Federation is a participant, as well as international financial organisations where the Russian Federation has concluded international treaties.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication with an exception.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 112 of April 4, 2007 on the Invalidation of the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia No. 263 of October 18, 2005 on the Procedure of Customs Registration of White Sugar and Sugar-Containing Products Imported to the Territory of the Russian Federation from the Republic of Belarus

The mentioned document is invalidated for the purpose of execution of obligations of the Russian Federation to abandon the requirement to place on the obligatory basis sugar imported from Belarus to Russia to the temporary storage warehouses (customs warehouses) from the date of signing of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on the terms of sugar supplies in 2007-2008 signed in Minsk on March 23, 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 18, 2007. Reg. No. 9296.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 229 of April 14, 2007 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 183 of March 2, 2000

The Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 183 of March 2, 2000 having endorsed the Regulation on the normatives of emissions of hazardous (polluting) agents into the atmospheric air and hazardous physical impacts on it is amended where it pertains to the forming of the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement to replace the dissolved State Committee of the Russian Federation for Protection of the Environment, as well as the reformation of the Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation into the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of Russia.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1814-U of March 30, 2007 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 105-I of August 25, 2003 on the Procedure to Carry out the Checks of Credit Organisations (Their Branches) by Authorised Representatives of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation

The procedure for the Bank of Russia to carry out the checks of credit organisations and their branches shall apply also to operational offices. The Direction lists the officials authorised to sign the order to check an operational office. If checking an internal structural division of the credit organisation (its branch), the documents or copies of documents attached to the act of check may be certified with the signature of the official in charge of the checked division of the credit organisation (its branch) and the seal of this division.
      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 April 25, 2007, No. 23.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 23, 2007. Reg. No. 9310.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1815-U of March 30, 2007 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 108-I of December 1, 2003 on the Organisation of Inspection Activities of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)

Specifies the particulars of organisation of inspection activities of the Bank of Russia pertaining to operational office.
      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 April 25, 2007, No. 23.

Decision of the Management Board of the State Corporation "Deposit Insurance Agency" of April 12, 2007, Protocol No. 24, on the Amendments to the Recommendations on the Procedure for the Banks to Inform Depositors of the Deposit Insurance Issues Endorsed by the Decision of the Management Board of the State Corporation "Deposit Insurance Agency" of June 30, 2005, Protocol No. 48

The amendments pertain to the increase of the amount of the total insurance reimbursement under bank deposits of citizens from Rbl 190,000 to Rbl 400,000.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 244 of April 24, 2007 on the Endorsement of the List of Codes of Commodities According to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation Exempted from the Value Added Tax at Import to the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2008 Inclusive If Done by Agricultural Producers Meeting the Criteria Envisaged in Item 2 of Article 346.2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Russian Organisations Engaged in Leasing Activities Followed by Their Subsequent Supplies to Agricultural Producers Meeting the Criteria Envisaged in Item 2 of Article 346.2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

The mentioned list includes pedigree bovine animals, swine, sheep and goats, breeding ova, semen from pedigree bulls, stallions, sheep or goats, swine, as well as embryos from pedigree horses, sheep or goats, bovine animals and swine.
      The Decision is entered into force from the date of its official publication and covers legal relations emerging from January 1, 2007.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 27n of March 29, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 124n of September 23, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Tax Declaration for the Land Tax and Its Filling Procedure

Provides a new form of the tax declaration for the land tax (KND form 1153005) and the codes of tax exemptions, amends its filling procedure.
      The Order is entered into force beginning with the tax declaration for the land tax for the year 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 24, 2007. Reg. No. 9331.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MM-3-25/174@ of March 29, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Information on the Average Listed Number of Employees for the Previous Calendar Year

Endorses the form used by taxpayers to submit information on the average listed number of employees for the previous calendar year to the tax body no later than January 20 of the current year, and in cases of creation (reorganisation) of the organisation - no later than the 20th of the month following the month when the organisation was created (reorganised).
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 24, 2007. Reg. No. 9320.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MM-3-06/178@ of March 30, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Procedure for the Banks to Submit Information on the Presence of Accounts in the Bank and/or Residues of Monetary Resources on the Accounts, on Operations on the Accounts to Requests of Tax Bodies and Appropriate Forms of Certificates and the Excerpt

From January 1, 2007, amendments to the Tax Code have entered not force envisaging the duty of the banks to hand out to the tax bodies certificates of the presence of accounts in the banks and/or residues of monetary resources on the accounts, excerpts of operations on the accounts of organisations (independent entrepreneurs, private notaries, lawyers having founded a lawyer office) within five days of receiving a motivated request of the tax body.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 23, 2007. Reg. No. 9318.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-21/pz-n of March 6, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Licensing of the Types of Professional Activities at the Securities Market

Endorses a new procedure of licensing of the types of professional activities at the securities market. The Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 05-3/pz-n of March 16, 2005 on the endorsement of the procedure of licensing of the types of professional activities at the securities market with amendments is invalidated.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 23, 2007. Reg. No. 9315.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1810-U of March 28, 2007 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 128-I of March 10, 2006 on the Rules of Issue and Registration of Securities by Credit Organisations on the Territory of the Russian Federation

Amends the Instruction on the rules of issue and registration of securities by credit organisations on the territory of the Russian Federation.
      The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 23, 2007. Reg. No. 9309.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1807-U of March 27, 2007 on the Procedure for the Bank of Russia to Take the Decision on the State Registration of the Changes Introduced in the Constituent Documents of the Bank and Issuance of the License for Bank Operations Pursuant to the Bank's Request to Change Its Status for the Status of a Non-Bank Credit Organisation

Specifies a procedure for the Bank of Russia to take the decision on the state registration of changes introduced in the bank's constituent documents and issuance of the license for bank operations following the bank's request to change its status for the status of a non-bank credit organisation, including the cases when the amount of own resources (capital) becomes lower than EUR 5 million rouble equivalent (for the bank with the capital as of January 1, 2007 in the amount of EUR 5 million rouble equivalent or higher) or becomes lower than the level of January 1, 2007 (for the bank with the amount of capital as of January 1, 2007 lower than EUR 5 million rouble equivalent).
      The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 23, 2007. Reg. No. 9308.

Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation No. 163 of March 14, 2007 on the Organisation of Works to Issue Phytosanitary and Quarantine Certificates

According to the Federal Law on the quarantine measures, the products (materials, cargo) subject to quarantine measures are plants, products of vegetation, containers, package, soil or other organism, object or material that may carry deleterious organisms or contribute to dissemination of such organisms. Export from the territory of the Russian Federation of such products (materials, cargo) is permitted in the presence of the phytosanitary certificate. To import to the territory of the Russian Federation, transport over it, as well as bring the mentioned products out of the quarantine phytosanitary zone, it is necessary to get the quarantine certificate.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 20, 2007. Reg. No. 9304.

Message of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of April 26, 2007

The annual message of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly provides an assessment of the existing situation in the country and defines the priorities of development of Russia in the social and cultural spheres, in the economy, in the sphere of defence and security, in foreign policy.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 533 of April 23, 2007 on the Amendments to Some of the Acts of the President of the Russian Federation and on Invalidation of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1183 of June 10, 1994 on the Protection of Consumers against Unfair Advertising

The amendments are stipulated by the entry into force from July 1, 2006 of the new law on advertising.
      The Decree is entered into force from the day of its signing.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-04-07-02/2 of January 26, 2007

Provides explanations on individual taxation issues pertaining to paid out rewards.

Federal Law No. 63-FZ of April 26, 2007 on the Amendments to the Budget Code of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Regulation of the Budget Process and on Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation To Be Brought in Compliance with the Budget Legislation of the Russian Federation

Implements a switchover to the medium-term financial planning. The draft federal budget and the draft budgets of the state extra-budgetary funds of the Russian Federation shall be endorsed for three years. The draft budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation and the draft budgets of the territorial state extra-budgetary funds (draft local budgets) may be drawn up for one year or three years.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2008 except for the provisions where other time limits for the entry into force are specified.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 255 of April 28, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Requirements to the Security Certificate of a Retail-Trade Market-Place and the List of Information in It

According to the Federal Law on the retail-trade market-places and on the amendments to the Labour Code of the Russian Federation, the security certificate is implied to be the document specifying the market-place compliance with security requirements, including those of anti-terrorist nature. The presence of the certificate is one of the obligatory conditions of organisation of work to sell commodities (carry out works, render services) at the market-place.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-04-06-01/103 of April 2, 2007

The proprietary tax exemption in the amount spent by the taxpayer for the new construction or purchase of a house, flat or a share (shares) in them may be provided to the taxpayer at the end of the tax period when he applies to the employer - tax agent - on condition of confirmation of the taxpayer right for the proprietary tax exemption by the tax body.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-06/1/204 of April 2, 2007

Expenses in the form of interest under credits granted for the purchase of equipment during conservation of works of equipment installation shall be registered in the determination of the taxable base for the profit tax as non-sale expenses in the amount not greater than the one specified in Article 269 of the Tax Code.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 257 of April 30, 2007 on the Interim Rate of the Import Customs Duty for Industrial Unprocessed Diamonds

Introduces for 9 months the rate of the import customs duty for industrial unprocessed diamonds or simply cut, split or having undergone raw processing (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 7102 21 000 0) in the amount of 10% of the customs cost. Earlier, the rate amounted to 20% 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. 253 of April 28, 2007 on the Procedure of Keeping of the State Water Register

The Register is a collection of documented information on the water objects available in the federal property, property of the subjects of the Russian Federation, municipal formations, natural persons and legal entities and independent entrepreneurs, on the use of water objects, on river basins and basin districts. The form of the Register and the rules of entry of information in it, as well as the rules of drawing up of the registration in the Register, are endorsed by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1811-U of March 29, 2007 on the Amendments to the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1715-U of November 17, 2004 on the Payments Made by the Bank of Russia on the Deposits of Natural Persons in the Bankrupt Banks Failing to Participate in the System of Obligatory Insurance of Deposits of Natural Persons in the Banks of the Russian Federation and on the Procedure of Interaction of the Agent Banks with the Bank of Russia

The amendments are stipulated by the entry into force of the Federal Law No. 34-FZ of March 13, 2007 having increased the amount of the total insurance reimbursement for the bank deposits of citizens from Rbl 190,000 to Rbl 400,000. The insurance reimbursement is paid out to depositors if the license for bank operations is revoked.
      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 April 25, 2007. Reg. No. 9342.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1819-U of April 24, 2007 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 108-I of December 1, 2003 on the Organisation of Inspection Activities of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)

According to the introduced amendments, it is prohibited to include in the working group checking the bank an authorised representative of the Bank of Russia possessing shares (stocks) of the checked credit organisation and/or being a member of the management bodies of the checked credit organisation.
      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 Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-06/1/222 of April 5, 2007

Explains the procedure of registration of expenses for the services under the outsourcing contract (personnel provided by an outside organisation) for the profit taxation purposes.

Amendment to the Regulation on the Committee of Banking Enforcement of the Bank of Russia (Endorsed by the Decision of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Russia of March 26, 2007 (Protocol of Session 6))

The sphere of reference of the Committee of Banking Enforcement does not include now the keeping and changing of prudential norms of activities of credit organisations. Earlier, the Committee enjoyed such authority in cases that did not require the Decision of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia.

Federal Law No. 64-FZ of April 26, 2007 on the Amendments to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pursuant to Adoption of the Federal Law on the Amendments to 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 and to the Code of Civil Procedures of the Russian Federation, As Well As to Implement the Legislation of the Russian Federation on Elections and Referendums

The adopted Law brings a number of legislative acts in compliance with the provisions of 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 and introduces mechanisms providing for the efficiency of the electoral legislation.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication except for individual provisions where another time limit for the entry into force is specified.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 28 of March 13, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Sale of Cargo on the Railway Transport

The manual of the railway transport of the Russian Federation permits the carriers to sell cargo independently in the absence of the consignee at the station of destination (if the consignor did not take the decision on the cargo destination and there is no opportunity to return such cargo to the consignor), in cases of failure to transfer the payment for the cargo transportation (for foodstuffs and perishable goods), cargo detention at the borderline and port transfer stations by the customs bodies or other bodies of state control (enforcement) because of violation of the rules of cargo transportation or customs rules by the consignor, as well as in some other cases.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 27, 2007. Reg. No. 9363.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation and the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences No. 252/24 of April 9, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of Russia and the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences No. 448/106 of December 13, 2001 on the Endorsement of the List of Human Organs - Objects of Transplantation - and the List of Public Health Institutions Permitted to Carry out Transplantation of Organs

According to the Law of the Russian Federation on the transplantation of human organs and/or tissues, the transplantation is permitted only in specialised public health institutions, the list being specified by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation together with the Russian Academy of Sciences.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 27, 2007. Reg. No. 9361.

Decision of the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation No. 13 of March 27, 2007 on the Endorsement of Sanitary Rules SP 1.1.2193-07

According to the Regulation on the state sanitary and epidemiological enforcement in the Russian Federation endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 569 of September 15, 2005, the sanitary and epidemiological enforcement in the Russian Federation is vested in the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being, its territorial bodies and other federal bodies of executive power and their territorial bodies (including the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Ministry of Defence of Russia, Federal Service of Execution of Punishments of Russia, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia) rather than state sanitary and epidemiological service being a joint federal centralised system of bodies and institutions.
      Sanitary rules SP 1.1.2193-07 are entered into force from June 1, 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 26, 2007. Reg. No. 9357.

Federal Law No. 65-FZ of May 1, 2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Technical Regulation

Refines the sphere of application of the Law. According to the amendments, it does not apply now not only to the state educational standards, provisions (standards) on accounting work and the rules (standards) of audit activities, standards of issue of securities and prospectuses of securities, but also to the socio-economic, organisational, sanitary and hygienic, medical treatment and prevention, rehabilitation measures in the sphere of labour safety. Besides, the Law does not regulate relations pertaining to measures of prevention and dissemination of mass human infections, prevention of human diseases, medical aid (except for the cases of development, adoption, application and execution of obligatory requirements to products, including medicines, medical equipment, foodstuffs), as well as the measures of protection of soil, atmospheric air, water objects, resorts, water objects included in the places of tourism and leisure.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 32n of April 9, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 113n of December 8, 2003

Amends the list and composition of the forms of accounting reports of insurance organisations and reports of the given organisations submitted according to the enforcement procedure as endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Finance of Russia No. 113n of December 8, 2003.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 26, 2007. Reg. No. 9359.

Federal Law No. 68-FZ of May 7, 2007 on the Victory Flag

To perpetuate the people's heroic deed in the Great Patriotic War of 19412-1945, to commemorate the merits of soldiers of the Soviet Armed Forces in the face of the Fatherland and as a gratitude of descendants to the winners of fascist occupants, specifies the status of the Victory Flag, the legal fundamentals of its storage and use.

Decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. 14 of April 26, 2007 on the Practice of Processing by Courts of Criminal Cases of Violation of the Copyright, Adjacent, Inventor and Patent Rights, As Well As of Illegal Use of the Trade Mark

The Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has prepared explanations on the vital issue of protection of the copyright and adjacent rights. The Plenum explained in particular what is protected by the copyright and what is not an object of the protection.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 60-T of April 27, 2007 on the Particulars of Servicing of Clients by Credit Organisations Using Technologies of Remote Access to the Client Bank Account (Including the Internet Banking)

Contains recommendations for the credit organisations to minimise their legal risks and the risks of loss of business reputation when their clients carry out doubtful operations using technologies of remote access to the bank account (including the Internet banking).

Federal Law No. 67-FZ of May 7, 2007 on the Ratification of the Documents of Amendments to the Charter and the Convention of the International Telecommunication Union of 1992

Ratifies the documents of amendments to the Charter and the Convention of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) of 1992 adopted by the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference and signed in Marrakech (Kingdom of Morocco) on October 18, 2002.

Federal Law No. 66-FZ of May 7, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 11.7 of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation

The notion of "small vessel" applied in the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation shall include in addition recreational vessels with the carrying capacity not greater than 12 persons regardless of the power rating of the main engine (main engines) and the total capacity, as well as the water bikes.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 263 of May 5, 2007 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation and the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 732 of December 5, 2005

From the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation, excludes subheadings used to identify other deboned meat and other meat with codes 0203 29 550 9 and 0203 29 900 9. Includes in addition subheadings 0203 29 550 2, 0203 29 550 8, 0203 29 900 2, 0203 29 900 8 to identify trimmings and other meat.
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources No. 74 of April 2, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Forestry Declaration and the Procedure of Its Filling and Submission

According to the Forestry Code having entered into force from January 1, 2007, the parties having obtained parts of forests for permanent use or on leasing terms shall submit on the annual basis to the bodies of state power, bodies of local government the forestry declaration, which is a declaration of use of forests in compliance with the forestry development project.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 26, 2007. Reg. No. 9345.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 61-T of May 3, 2007 on the Measures to Refine the Unidentified Receipts in the Federal Budget

To refine the unidentified receipts in the federal budget, the territorial institutions of the Bank of Russia and the Department of Licensing of Activities and Financial Rehabilitation of Credit Organisations are ordered to request appropriate departments of the Federal Treasury in the subjects of the Russian Federation to provide documents on unidentified receipts in the federal budget where the Bank of Russia is defined as administrator.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 266 of May 5, 2007 on the Hi-Tech Medical Aid to Be Rendered in 2007 to the Citizens of the Russian Federation from the Federal Budget

Endorses the rules regulating the procedure of generation in 2007 of the state order for the hi-tech medical aid to be rendered to the citizens of the Russian Federation and financed at the expense of the federal budget in the framework of the program of state guarantees of free medical aid to the citizens of the Russian Federation in 2007.
      The Decision is entered into force from the day of its official publication and applies to legal relations emerging from April 1, 2007.

Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 511 of April 23, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 1539 of December 25, 2003

From June 27, 2007, enters into force the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation stating that the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Romania having become members of the European Union from January 1, 2007 are excluded from the list of user countries of the scheme of preferences of the Russian Federation.
      The Order is entered into force from June 27, 2007.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-07-15/47 of April 4, 2007

The moment of determination of the taxable base for the value added tax for the property leasing services is the earlier of the dates: day of payment (partial payment) for the anticipated services or the last day of the tax period where the services are rendered regardless of the subsequent time of receiving of the rent in the periods specified in the lease contract.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 276 of May 10, 2007 on the Amendments to the Rules of Rendering of Public Catering Services Endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1036 of August 15, 1997

Provides a new wording for the rules of rendering of public catering services.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 273 of May 8, 2007 on the Calculation of the Amount of Damage Incurred on the Forests Because of the Violation of the Forestry Legislation

According to the new Forestry Code of the Russian Federation having entered into force from January 1, 2007, the damage incurred on the forest plantations or trees not included in forest plantations, bushes and lianas because of violation of the forestry legislation must be reimbursed on the obligatory basis.
      The Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 388 of May 21, 2001 having endorsed the rates for the calculation of the amount of sanctions for the damage incurred on the forestry fund and the forests not included in the forestry fund by the violation of the forestry legislation of the Russian Federation is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 271 of May 8, 2007 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Used Semi-Trailers Aged 7 Years and More

To support domestic producers of trucks, introduces import customs duties for used semi-trailers aged 7 years and more with the total weight greater than 15 tons and the length not less than 13.6 m in the amount of EUR 126 per ton of total weight and refrigerator semi-trailers with internal capacity at least 76 m3 in the amount of EUR 70 per cubic meter of internal capacity. The mentioned rates of the import customs duties are introduced for 9 months.
      The Decision is entered into force 2 months after the date of its official publication.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 01-31/pz-n of March 29, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Activities of Organisation of Trade at the Securities Market Endorsed by the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 06-68/pz-n of June 22, 2006

The amendments pertain to the procedure of permitting securities for tenders, carrying out the tenders, control and monitoring carried out by organisers of trade, as well as of disclosing and providing information.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 2, 2007. Reg. No. 9371.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 39 of February 15, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Methodology Recommendations on the State Cadastral Assessment of Lands of Residential Settlements

Endorses the Methodology Recommendations on the state cadastral assessment of lands of residential settlements.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 2, 2007. Reg. No. 9370.

Order of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being No. 90 of April 2, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being No. 147 of June 5, 2006 and Endorsement of the Forms of Documents Used in the Course of Licensing

The Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 208 of April 11, 2006 endorsed the form of the document confirming the presence of the license. Besides, the licensing bodies are ordered to endorse the forms of applications for the granting and redrawing of licenses, as well as the notifications, orders, excerpts from registers of licenses and other documents used in the course of licensing.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 3, 2007. Reg. No. 9397.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 303-P of April 25, 2007 on the Real-Time Gross Settlement System of the Bank of Russia

Defines the rules of functioning of the real-time gross settlement system of the Bank of Russia known as the urgent electronic bank settlement system (BESP).
      The Regulation is entered into force from July 1, 2007.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1822-U of April 25, 2007 on the Procedure for Making Payments in the Real-Time Gross Settlement System of the Bank of Russia

Regulates the procedure of making payments in the real-time gross settlement system of the Bank of Russia known as the urgent electronic bank settlement system (BESP) by the system participants and of management of participation in the system.
      The Direction must be published officially in the Herald of the Bank of Russia and is entered into force from July 1, 2007.

Federal Law No. 69-FZ of May 10, 2007 on the Amendments to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pertaining to the Procedure of Reservation of Lands for the State and Municipal Needs

To eliminate the gap in the legal regulation of relations in the sphere of reservation of lands for the state and municipal needs, amends the Land and the City-Planning Codes, federal laws on the transfer of lands or land plots from one category into another, on the entry into force of the City-Planning Code of the Russian Federation and a number of other. The Land Code is extended to include the norms defining the grounds, procedure and time limits of reservation of lands, the authority of the state and municipal bodies in the mentioned sphere.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 3n of January 10, 2007 on the Particulars of Accounting Work of Non-State Pension Funds

According to the particulars, generation of accounting reports of a non-state pension fund must provide for the observation of the requirement prohibiting the mixing (keeping separate records) of the property intended for the chartered activities of the fund, the property forming the pension reserves and the property forming the accumulated pensions, as well as the one on the keeping of records of pension reserves, accumulated pensions and appropriate payments separately for the non-state pension support and for the obligatory pension insurance.
      The Order is entered into force beginning with accounting reports for the year 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 2, 2007. Reg. No. 9379.

Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1826-U of May 14, 2007

From July 1, 2007, the normative of obligatory reserves for obligations to non-resident banks in the currency of the Russian Federation and in foreign currencies, as well as for other obligations of credit organisations in the currency of the Russian Federation and obligations in foreign currencies, is fixed in the amount of 4.5%, for obligations of credit organisations to natural persons in the currency of the Russian Federation - in the amount of 4%.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 07-05-06/106 of April 24, 2007

Explains the issue of application of the notion of "primary accounting documents" for the purposes of the profit tax from organisations.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-07-15/1/4 of March 29, 2007

According to the amendments introduced in the Tax Code of the Russian Federation by the Federal Law 134-FZ of July 26, 2006, the maximum retail price is applied from January 1, 2007 for the sale of cigarettes on the territory of the Russian Federation in the determination of the amount of excise duty tax for the ad valorem component of the tax rate.

Federal Law No. 74-FZ of May 15, 2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Federal Budget for the Year 2007

The amendments bring the provisions of the federal budget for the year 2007 in compliance with the Forestry Code having entered into force from January 1, 2007.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 73-FZ of May 10, 2007 on the Dissolution of Some of the Regional Courts of the Pskov Province

One year after the entry into force of the Federal Law, dissolves the Krasnogorodsky, Pustoshkinsky and the Ustvyatsky regional courts of the Pskov Province. The issues of their sphere of reference are handed over to the Pytalovsky, Opochetsky and the Nevelsky regional courts respectively of the Pskov Province.
      The Federal Law is entered into force 30 days after the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 72-FZ of May 10, 2007 on the Dissolution of the Tungiro-Olekminsky Regional Court of the Chita Province

One year after the entry into force of the Federal Law, dissolves the Tungiro-Olekminsky Regional Court of the Chita Province. The issues of its sphere of reference are handed over to the Mogochinsky Regional Court of the Chita Province.
      The Federal Law is entered into force 30 days after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-37/pz-n of April 3, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Carrying out of Activities of Management of Securities

According to the actual legislation, activities of management of securities imply the trust control on behalf of the legal entity in its own name for a reward during a certain period of time for the handed over to it in possession and owned by another entity in the interests of this entity or third parties indicated by this entity: securities; monetary resources intended for investing in securities; monetary resources and securities obtained in the course of management of securities.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 14, 2007. Reg. No. 9457.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 88 of May 4, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Explanations on the Application of the Rules of Preparation of Normative Legal Acts of the Federal Bodies of Executive Power and Their State Registration

To bring in compliance with the provisions of the actual legislation and in view of the changing of the structure of the federal bodies of executive power, prepares new explanations on the application of the rules of preparation of normative legal acts of the federal bodies of executive power and their state registration endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1009 of August 13, 1997 to replace the explanations earlier introduced in pursuance of the Order of the Ministry of Justice of Russia No. 217 of July 14, 1999.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 14, 2007. Reg. No. 9449.

Order of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation No. MM-3-07/273@ of May 3, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Methodology Recommendations on the Organisation of Work of the Federal Tax Service of Russia Pertaining to the Licensing of Activities in the Sphere of Production and Circulation of Ethyl Alcohol, Alcohol-Containing and Alcoholic Products

In view of the introduction in compliance with the Federal Law No. 248-FZ of December 29, 2006 of a range of amendments to the Federal Law on the state regulation of production and circulation of ethyl alcohol, alcoholic and alcohol-containing products, introduces a new procedure of organisation of work of the Federal Tax Service of Russia pertaining to the licensing of activities in the sphere of production and circulation of ethyl alcohol, alcoholic and alcohol-containing products.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MM-3-25/261@ of April 25, 2007 on the Revocation of the Order of the Federal Tax Service of Russia No. SAE-3-25/2@ of January 11, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Joint Verification of the Estimates of Taxes, Fees, Penalties and Fines, the Form of the Act of the Joint Verification of Estimates of Taxes, Fees, Penalties and Fines and Their Drawing Procedure

Invalidates the Order of the Federal Tax Service of Russia No. SAE-3-25/2@ of January 11, 2007 having specified the sequence of actions of officials of the taxpayer section of inspections of the Federal Tax Service of Russia in the regions, urban regions, cities without the regional division and the inter-regional level, inter-regional inspections of the Federal Tax Service of Russia for major taxpayers in the course of the joint verification of estimates of taxes, fees, penalties and fines.

Federal Law No. 77-FZ of May 16, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 372 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

The amendments remove controversies in the text of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation pertaining to the authority to endorse the form of the tax declaration for the property tax from organisations.
      The Federal Law is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication, however, no sooner than the first of the subsequent tax period for the property tax from organisations.

Federal Law No. 76-FZ of May 16, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 224, 275 and 284 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

The amendments create incentives for deployment of production holdings on the territory of the Russian Federation through exemption from taxation of dividends obtained by Russian organisations as a result of strategic investments in the capital of other organisations.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2008, however, no sooner than one month after the day of its official publication and no sooner than the first of the subsequent tax period for the incomes tax from natural persons and the profit tax from organisations.

Federal Law No. 75-FZ of May 16, 2007 on the Amendments to Chapter 22 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

According to the forecasted dynamics of growth of the average prices for consumer goods and inflation for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010, the specific rates of excise duty taxes for excisable commodities will be indexed in the following amounts: for the year 2008 - by 7% as compared to the year 2007; for the year 2009 - by 6.5% as compared to the year 2008; for the year 2010 - by 6% as compared to the year 2009. An exception is made for excise duty rates for oil products (the amounts being preserved for the years 2008-2010), tobacco items, beer and light alcoholic drinks.
      The Federal Law is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication and no sooner than the first of the subsequent tax period for excise duty taxes. The new tax rates for excisable commodities are entered into force from January 1, 2008.

Federal Law No. 71-FZ of May 10, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 13 of the Federal Law on the Combating of Extremist Activities

According to the amendments, the prosecutor is entitled to appeal to court to recognise the materials extremist not only at the place of location of the organisation having issued such materials, but also at the place where they are found and disseminated.

Federal Law No. 70-FZ of May 10, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 214 and 244 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation

The adopted Federal Law enhances the criminal and administrative responsibility for such extremist violations as acts of vandalism, outrage over the burials, propaganda and public demonstration of nazi attributes or symbols.

Federal Law No. 79-FZ of May 17, 2007 on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Chinese People's Republic on the Status of Military Formations of the Russian Federation Temporarily Deployed on the Territory of the Chinese People's Republic and the Military Formations of the Chinese People's Republic Temporarily Deployed on the Territory of the Russian Federation for Joint Military Training

Ratifies the Agreement defining the status of servicemen of the Russian military formations during their stay on the territory of China and the servicemen of the Chinese military formations during their stay on the territory of Russia in the course of joint military exercises.

Federal Law No. 78-FZ of May 16, 2007 on the Ratification of the Seventh Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union Adopted by the 23d Congress of the Universal Postal Union

Ratifies the Seventh Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union adopted by the 23d Congress of the Universal Postal Union and signed in Bucharest on October 5, 2004.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 294 of May 16, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Export Customs Duties for Raw Oil and Individual Categories of Commodities of Oil Exported from the Territory of the Russian Federation outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

From July 1, 2007, increases the rates of the export customs duties for raw oil and individual categories of commodities of oil exported from the territory of the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements specified by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 695 of November 16 and being in effect from April 1, 2007.
      The rate of the export customs duty for raw oil will make USD 200.6 instead of USD 156.4.
      Export from the Russian Federation of light and medium distillates, gas oils, propane, butane, ethylene, propylene, butylene and butadiene, other liquefied gases, benzene, toluene, xylenes will be subject to the rate of USD 147.5 per ton (instead of USD 117.7).
      The rate of the export duty for liquid fuels, lubricants, spent oil products, petrolatum, mineral waxes and similar products (other than the raw ones), as well as the oil coke, bitumen and other residues of oil processing or oil products from bituminous materials (other than calcined oil coke) will make USD 79.4 per ton instead of USD 63.4.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 292 of May 15, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Register of Unfair Suppliers and on the Requirements to the Technological, Software, Linguistic, Legal and Organisational Means of Keeping of the Register

According to the actual procedure of placing of orders for supplies of commodities, carrying out works, rendering services for the state and municipal needs, the federal body of executive power in charge of control in the sphere of placing of orders shall keep the Register of Unfair Suppliers. The Register shall include information on the participants having avoided to conclude the state or municipal contract, as well as suppliers (executors, contactors) where the state or municipal contracts are discontinued because of a major violation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 291 of May 15, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Export Customs Duties for Natural Calcium Phosphates and Individual Types of Mineral Fertilisers

The rate of the export customs duty for natural calcium phosphates, whether or not crashed (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 2510 10 000 0 and 2510 20 000 0), when exported from the territory of the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the customs union agreements, is reduced from 6.5% of the customs cost to 0%.
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 290 of May 15, 2007 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 795 of December 23, 2006 Pertaining to Individual Types of Lumber

The amendments introduce the zero rates of export customs duties for individual types of lumber sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or finger-jointed, with thickness exceeding 6 mm: coniferous - code 4407 10 according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature (earlier, the rate amounted to 3% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 2.5 per cubic meter); as well as the ones exported earlier using the rate of 10%, however, not less than EUR 5 per cubic meter: other, of maple tree (Acer spp.) - code 4407 93 according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature; other, of cherry tree (Prunus spp.) - code 4407 94 according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature; other - code 4407 99 according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature.
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 609-r of May 15, 2007

According to the actual legislation, the placing of orders for supplies of commodities (carrying out works, rendering services) for the state or municipal needs that are fulfilled other than to particular orders of the client, authorised body, when there is a functioning market and that may be compared by their prices only, is arranged through an auction. The list of such commodities (works, services) is specified by the Government of the Russian Federation.

Federal Law No. 83-FZ of May 17, 2007 on the Amendments to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Adoption of the Federal Law on the Bank of Development

Pursuant to the creation of the Bank of Development, introduces amendments to the Tax Code, as well as the Federal Laws on the banks and banking activities, on the organisation of insurance activities in the Russian Federation, on non-commercial organisations, on the securities market and on the currency regulation and currency control.
      The Federal Law is entered into force 10 days after the day of its official publication except for individual provisions where special time limits are specified.

Federal Law No. 82-FZ of May 17, 2007 on the Bank of Development

The Federal Law defines the legal fundamentals of creation of the state corporation Bank of Development and Foreign Trade Activities (Vnesheconombank), specifies the legal status, principles of organisation, goals of creation and activities, procedure of reorganisation and liquidation of this bank.

Federal Law No. 81-FZ of May 17, 2007 on the Ratification of the Protocol to the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Avoidance of Payment of Taxes for the Income and Property Taxes

The ratified Protocol introduces equal conditions of taxation of incomes of natural persons from employment in Belarus and Russia respectively.

Federal Law No. 80-FZ of May 17, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 14 of the Federal Law on the Military and Technical Cooperation of the Russian Federation with Foreign States

Changes the wording of the provision of the Federal Law on the military and technical cooperation of the Russian Federation with foreign states having specified that international treaties of Russia in the sphere of military and technical cooperation must be ratified according to the procedure specified by the legislation of the country. According to the new wording, the Russian Federation agrees to observe international treaties in the sphere of military and technical cooperation in compliance with the norms of the international law and provisions of the Federal Law on the international treaties of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 297 of May 19, 2007 on the Endorsement of the List of Agricultural Products Sold at the Agricultural Market and the Cooperative Agricultural Market

From January 15, 2007, the Federal Law has entered into force to regulate the relations pertaining to organisation of retail-trade marketplaces and activities of sale of commodities (carrying out works, rendering services) at retail-trade marketplaces. The retail-trade marketplaces are subdivided into the multipurpose and the specialised ones.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-34/pz-n of March 29, 2997 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Information on the Concluded Transactions Endorsed by the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 06-67/pz-n of June 22, 2006

According to the Federal Law on the securities market, the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia provides, among other things, for creation of a public-access system of disclosing of information at the securities market.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 17, 2007. Reg. No. 9501.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1821-U of April 25, 2007 on the Procedure for the Subject of Credits Histories to Send Requests and Obtain Information from the Central Catalogue of Credits Histories through Divisions of Postal Communication

According to the Federal Law on credit histories, the Central Catalogue of Credit Histories is crested by the Bank of Russia for the subjects of credit histories and users of credit histories to collect, store and provide information on the credit history bureaus generating credit histories of subjects of credit histories and to store temporarily databases of liquidated (reorganised) credit history bureaus.
      The Direction is entered into force 10 days after the day of official publication in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 17, 2007. Reg. No. 9494.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MM-3-03/239@ of April 18, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Documents Used by the Tax Bodies While Implementing Their Authority in Relations Regulated by the Legislation on Taxes and Fees

Federal Law No. 137-FZ of July 27, 2006 amended the Tax Code to improve tax control and adjust tax checks.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 17, 2007. Reg. No. 9489.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-39/pz-n of April 5, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Procedure of Amending of the Register of Holders of Securities and Depositary Records When the Stocks Are Bought out by the Joint-Stock Company at the Demand of Stock-Holders

Endorses the Regulation defining the procedure of amending of the register of holders of securities and depositary records when the stocks are bought out by the joint-stock company at the demand of stock-holders. The Regulation applies also to issuers of securities keeping the register of personal securities independently.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 16, 2007. Reg. No. 9481.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-33/pz-n of March 29, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Procedure of Rendering Services Permitting to Conclude Futures Contracts, As Well As on the Particulars of Clearing of Futures Contracts Endorsed by the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 06-95/pz-n of August 24, 2006

The amendments pertain to the rules of carrying out of tenders and of clearing of futures contracts.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 17, 2007. Reg. No. 9502.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1817-U of April 11, 2007 on the Amendments to the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1744-U of November 13, 2006 on the Procedure for the Bank of Russia to Hand out to Resident Credit Organisations Coins for Numismatic Purposes

Pursuant to the changing of the organisational structure of the Bank of Russia, in particular, reorganisation of the Department of Emissions and Cash Operations of the Bank of Russia into the Department of Circulation of Cash of the Bank of Russia, introduces appropriate amendments to the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1744-U of November 13, 2006 on the procedure for the Bank of Russia to hand out to resident credit organisations coins for numismatic purposes.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 17, 2007. Reg. No. 9500.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1818-U of April 23, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 230-P of June 4, 2003 on the Reorganisation of Credit Organisations in the Form of a Merger and Incorporation

The procedure of reorganisation of credit organisations in the form of a merger and incorporation is being brought in compliance with the actual legislation on joint-stock companies and on limited-liability companies.
      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 May 17, 2007. Reg. No. 9488.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-32/pz-n of March 29, 2007 on the Invalidation of Item 9.1 of the Regulation on the Clearing Activities at the Securities Market of the Russian Federation Endorsed by the Decision of the Federal Commission for Securities Market No. 32/ps of August 14, 2002

Removes the prohibition to combine clearing of futures transactions and clearing of other transactions with securities for clearing centres.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 16, 2007. Reg. No. 9482.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 280 of May 10, 2007 on the Targeted Federal Program "Prevention and Combating Socially Significant Diseases (2007-2011)"

Endorses the federal targeted program "Prevention and Combating Socially Significant Diseases (2007-2011)" including subprograms "Diabetes Mellitus", "Tuberculosis", "HIV Infection", "Oncology", "Sexually Transmitted Infections", "Viral Hepatitis", "Psychic Disorders", "Arterial Hypertension" and "Vaccine Prevention".

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-02-07/2-78 of April 25, 2007 on the Uniform (Simplified) Tax Declaration

According to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, taxpayers must submit to the tax body at the place of registration tax declarations (estimates) for each tax due from these taxpayers. The person is recognised to be a taxpayer regardless of the presence or absence of the duty to pay the appropriate tax with him. The absence of the amount of tax to pay as a result of a particular tax period with the taxpayer does not exempt him from the duty to submit the tax declaration for this tax, if otherwise is not specified in the legislation on taxes and fees.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 306 of May 21, 2007 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 187 of April 7, 2004 and No. 443 of August 27, 2004

The amendments to the Federal Law on the assessment activities in the Russian Federation introduce an obligatory membership for assessors in one of the self-regulating organisations of assessors that control activities of assessors. From July 1, 2007, the persons having failed to join the self-regulating organisations of assessors may not engage in assessment activities. Enforcement functions for the activities of self-regulating organisations are vested in the authorised federal body in the sphere of assessment activities.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 304 of May 21, 2007 on the Classification of Emergency Situations of Natural and Technical Nature

According to the Federal Law on the protection of population and territories against emergency situations of natural and technical nature, the borders of the zones of emergency situations are defined by the managers of works of elimination of emergency situations on the basis of classification of emergency situations specified by the Government of the Russian Federation and upon coordination with executive bodies of state power and the bodies of local government where the emergency situations occur.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 6-P of May 16, 2007 on the Case of Constitutionality of Provisions of Articles 237, 413 and 418 of the Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Request of the Presidium of the Kurgan Province Court

Provisions of Item 2 of Parts 2 and 3 of Article 413 and Article 418 of the Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation interconnected with its Article 237 where they permit to refuse renewal of proceedings in a criminal case and revise decisions taken in it because of the new or newly revealed circumstances showing the presence in the actions of the accused of the signs of a heavier crime are recognised as not complying with the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
      The Decision is entered into force immediately after the annunciation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 316 of May 24, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Determination of the Terms of Work of Organisations of the Communal Complex Where Objective Changes Affect the Cost of Commodities and Services of These Organisations

Objective changes of conditions of work of organisations of the communal complex affecting the cost of commodities and services of these organisations include natural disasters, catastrophes, other emergency situations of natural and technical nature, military actions, terrorist acts, mass uproars or withdrawal of fixed assets from the organisation. In the case of such events and circumstances, the organisation of the communal complex may submit an application to the regulatory body for an early revision of tariff rates.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 29n of May 2, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Calculation of the Cost of Net Assets of Organisers of Games of Chance

According to the Federal Law No. 244-FZ of December 29, 2006, the cost of net assets of organisers of games of chance during the whole period of activities of organisation of games of chance may not be lower than Rbl 600 million for organisers of games of chance in casinos and halls of gambling machines; Rbl 100 million for organisers of games of chance in bookmaker offices and sweepstakes.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 22, 2007. Reg. No. 9523.

Federal Law No. 84-FZ of May 17, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 5 and 23 of the Federal Law on the Special Economic Zone in the Kaliningrad Province and on the Amendments to Some of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation, Article 89 of Part 1 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Articles 288.1 and 385.1 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

According to the amendments, the resident must be excluded from the Joint Register of Residents of the Special Economic Zone in the Kaliningrad Province if the record stating that the legal entity is in the process of liquidation is entered in the Register, rather than in the case of liquidation of the legal entity.
      The Federal Law is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication except for the changes in the Tax Code. The mentioned amendments are entered into force one month after the day of official publication of the Federal Law and no sooner than the 1st of the subsequent tax period for the appropriate tax.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 320 of May 26, 2007 on the Exemption from Customs Duties and Taxes of Vessels Temporarily Imported to the Customs Territory of the Russian Federation for Storage of Exported Oil Products

The vessels used as storage devices for the export of oil products (Heading 8901 of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia) and owned by foreign entities on condition of their use in Russian ports open for international transportation are temporarily imported to the customs territory of the Russian Federation while being fully exempted from customs duties and taxes for 1 year.
      The Decision applies to legal relations emerging from May 1, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 318 of May 24, 2007 on the State Forestry Register

The State Forestry Register is a summary of documented information on the forests, their use, protection, reproduction, on forestry farms and parks.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 313 of May 24, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation

The sphere of reference of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia is being brought in compliance with the new Forestry Code.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-44/pz-n of April 12, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Information to Be Disclosed by Issuers of Emission Securities Endorsed by the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia No. 06-117/pz-n of October 10, 2006

In view of the introduction of a new type of security – Russian depositary receipt – introduces appropriate amendments to the Regulation on the information to be disclosed by issuers of emission securities.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 23, 2007. Reg. No. 9540.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation No. 147 of April 26, 2007 on the Administrative Regulation for the Federal Agency of Cadastre of Objects of Immovable Property to Render the State Service of Providing Information on the Objects of Capital Construction to Interested Parties

Specifies the sequence of actions for the Federal Agency of Cadastre of Objects of Immovable Property and its territorial bodies when they render the state service of providing information on the objects of capital construction to the interested parties (applicants).
      The Regulation is entered into force on the stepwise basis: beginning with July 1, 2007 and later with the periods of one year (from July 1, 2008, from July 1, 2009) on the territory of individual subjects of the Russian Federation and from July 1, 2010 – on the territory of the Russian Federation.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 23, 2007. Reg. No. 9530.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MM-3-10/187@ of April 2, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Decision on the Adjustment of Payment and Its Filling Procedure

If the taxpayer reveals an error in the order for the transfer of the tax that did not imply a failure to transfer the tax to the budget system of the Russian Federation to the appropriate account of the Federal Treasury, the taxpayer may appeal to adjust the grounds, type and affiliation of the tax, the tax period or the payer status.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 23, 2007. Reg. No. 9528.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-50/pz-n of April 24, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Normatives of Sufficiency of Own Resources of Professional Participants of the Securities Market, As Well As the Management Companies of Investment Funds, Shared Investment Funds and Non-State Pension Funds

One of the obligatory license requirements and prerequisites is compliance of own resources of professional participants with the normatives of sufficiency specified by the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia.
      The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2008.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 22, 2007. Reg. No. 9525.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1828-U of May 14, 2007 on the Amendments to the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 109-I of January 14, 2004 on the Procedure for the Bank of Russia to Take the Decision on the State Registration of Credit Organisations and Issue of Licenses for Bank Operations

Cash dispensers and terminals intended for acceptance of cash from clients and its storage and owned by the founder of the credit organisation may be included in the registered capital of the credit organisation.
      The Direction is entered into force from 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 May 22, 2007. Reg. No. 9521.

Order of the Ministry of the Industry and Power Supplies of the Russian Federation No. 138 of April 24, 2007 on the Organisation of Work in the Ministry of the Industry and Power Supplies of Russia to Confirm the Designated Use of Imported Equipment for the Paper-and-Pulp Industry

Endorses the procedure defining organisation of work and terms of issue of the confirmation of the designated use of programmable controllers with memory used in the equipment for production of pulp of fibrous cellulose materials or for making or finishing paper or paperboard (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 10 910 1) imported by organisations regardless of their organisational and legal form and agency affiliation. According to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 718 of November 27, 2006, the mentioned commodities are imported using the zero rate of the customs duty on condition of confirmation of their use for designated purposes by the Ministry of the Industry and Power Supplies of Russia.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 22, 2007. Reg. No. 9518.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1820-U of April 24, 2007 on the Amendment to the Direction of the Bank of Russia No. 1542-U of January 13, 2005 on the Particulars of Bank Checks Carried out by the Employees of the State Corporation “Deposit Insurance Agency”

Bank checks pertaining to the volume and structure of obligations of these banks to depositors, payment of insurance contributions, as well as execution of other obligations by the banks specified by the Federal Law on the insurance of the deposits of natural persons in the banks of the Russian Federation shall be carried out by the authorised representatives of the Central Bank of Russia with participation of the employees of the state corporation “Deposit Insurance Agency”.
      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 May 22, 2007. Reg. No. 9512.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-49/pz-n of April 23, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 06-69/pz-n of June 22, 2006 on the Territorial Bodies of the Federal Service for Financial Markets

A new subject of the Russian Federation is formed as a result of the merger of the Irkutsk Province and the Ust-Ordynsk Buryat Autonomous District from January 1, 2008 – the Irkutsk Province. Appropriate changes are introduced in the Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia No. 06-69/pz-n of June 22, 2006 where they pertain to the description of the territory covered by the Regional Division of the Federal Service for Financial Markets in the East-Siberian Region.
      The Order is entered into force from January 1, 2008.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 22, 2007. Reg. No. 9511.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring No. 88 of April 13, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring

The endorsed Regulation on the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring specifies general rules of internal organisation of the service and the procedure of its interaction with the Ministry of Finance of Russia.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 22, 2007. Reg. No. 9509.

Federal Law No. 85-FZ of May 17, 2007 on the Amendments to Chapters 21, 26.1, 26.2 and 26.3 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

The amendments to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation eliminate drawbacks in the application of the simplified system of taxation, system of taxation in the form of the uniform imputed income tax for individual types of activities and the value added tax.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from January 1, 2008, however, no sooner than one month after the day of its official publication except for some norms on the value added tax and the simplified system of taxation covering legal relations emerging from January 1, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 321 of May 26, 2007 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation

From July 1, 2007, introduces on the permanent basis the zero rates of the import customs duties that were in effect until June 30, 2007 for more than 600 names of technological equipment, mechanical devices, instruments.
      July 1, 2007 will also be used to apply on the permanent basis the rates of the import customs duties presently in use for individual types of cheeses, shoes and parts thereof, ores, cinder, ferrous metals, items of germanium, ground vehicles.

Order of the Federal Antimonopoly Service No. 5 of January 17, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation of the Federal Antimonopoly Service for the Execution of the State Function of Identification of the Dominating Position of the Economic Subject in Cases of Violation of the Antimonopoly Legislation and in the Course of State Control of Economic Concentration

Endorses the Administrative Regulation defining the time limits and the sequence of actions (administrative procedures) for the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia and its territorial bodies in the course of implementation of the state function to identify the dominating position of the economic subject.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 23, 2007. Reg. No. 9541.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-11-02/151 of May 29, 2007

When calculating the uniform imputed income tax, one should use from January 1, 2007 the K1 coefficient specified in the Order of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia No. 359 of November 3, 2006 (in the amount of 1.096). The amounts of the uniform imputed income tax calculated for the I quarter of 2007 using the deflator coefficient K1 in the amount of 1.241 must be recalculated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 310 of May 22, 2007 on the Rates of Payment for the Unit of Volume of Forest Resources and the Rates of Payment for the Unit of Area of the Federally Owned Forest Part

Endorses the rates of payment for the unit of volume of forest resources and the rates of payment for the unit of area of the federally owned forest part.

Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 6498/40n of May 8, 2007 on the Endorsement of the List of Foreign States Whose Citizens and/or Organisations Accredited in the Russian Federation Are Exempted from the Value Added Tax When They Lease Rooms on the Territory of the Russian Federation

According to the Tax Code, VAT exemption applies to the leasing of rooms on the territory of the Russian Federation by foreign citizens and organisations accredited in the Russian Federation, the list of foreign states being defined by the federal body of executive power in the sphere of international relations together with the Ministry of Finance.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 28, 2007. Reg. No. 9567.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1823-U of May 2, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 2-P of October 3, 2002 on Cashless Payments in the Russian Federation

Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 2-P of October 3, 2002 on cashless payments in the Russian Federation is amended where it pertains to the procedure of submission of payment orders in the electronic form.
      The Direction must be published officially in the Herald of the Bank of Russia and is entered into force from July 1, 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 25, 2007. Reg. No. 9547.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1824-U of May 2, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 225-P of May 6, 2003 on the Guide of Bank Identification Codes of Participants of Payments Making Payments through the Payment Network of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (Bank of Russia)

Amends the description of the requisites of participants of payments making payments through the payment network of the Bank of Russia, as well as their filling procedure.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 22, 2007. Reg. No. 9507.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MM-3-06/308@ of May 16, 2007 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. SAE-3-30/290@ of April 16, 2004

Revises the criteria of qualifying of legal entity organisations as major taxpayers subject to tax administration at the federal and regional level.

Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 6499/41n of May 8, 2007 on the Endorsement of the List of Foreign States Whose Representations Enjoy on the Basis of Reciprocity the 0% Rate of the Value Added Tax for the Sale of Commodities (Carrying out Works, Rendering Services) for Official Use by Foreign Diplomatic Representations and the Ones of Similar Status or for Personal Use by Diplomatic and Administrative-and-Technical Personnel of These Representations Including Their Family Members Living Together with Them

The sale of commodities (carrying out works, rendering services) for official use by diplomatic representations of foreign states and the ones of similar status or for personal use by the diplomatic and administrative-and-technical personnel of these representations, including their family members living together with them, is subject to the value added tax at the rate of 0% on the basis of reciprocity, the appropriate state being included in the list defined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia together with the Ministry of Finance of Russia.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 28, 2007. Reg. No. 9564.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MM-3-06/333@ of May 30, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Concept of the System of Planning of On-Site Tax Checks

The main and most efficient form of tax control today is on-site tax checks permitting to solve a number of tasks simultaneously, the most important being revealing and stopping violations of the legislation on taxes and fees, as well as prevention of tax violations.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-06/2/92 of May 25, 2007

Explains the procedure of registration of expenses in the form of insurance contributions for obligatory insurance of deposits of natural persons in the banks of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 334 of May 30, 2007 on the Amounts of Assets of Financial Organisations (Except for Credit Organisations) and the Aggregate Share of Financial Organisations (Except for Credit Organisations) at the Commodity Market for the Purpose of Antimonopoly Control

For the purposes of antimonopoly control, introduces amounts of assets of financial organisations requiring a preliminary consent of the antimonopoly body for the transactions envisaged in the Federal Law on the protection of competition.
      Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 194 of March 7, 2000 on the terms of antimonopoly control at the market of financial services and on the endorsement of the method of determination of turnovers and margins of the market of financial services of financial organisations is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 324 of May 28, 2007 on the Lease Contract for the Forest Part in the State or Municipal Property

According to the new Forestry Code of the Russian Federation, parts of forests available in the state or municipal property may be leased by legal entities and citizens. The Decision defines the procedure of preparation and conclusion of the lease contract for the forest part available in the state or municipal property.
      Regulation on the leasing of parts of the forest fund endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 345 of March 24, 1998 is invalidated.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 325 of May 28, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Form of Proposal to Create an Autonomous Institution by Changing the Type of the Existing State or Municipal Institution

The Federal Law has entered into force from January 8, 2007 defining the legal status of state (municipal) institutions of the new type - autonomous institutions.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 333 of May 28, 2007 on the Improvement of the State Regulation of Prices for Gas

The amendments provide for a stepwise equalisation of profitability of supplies of gas at the internal and the foreign markets.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 07-8/pz-n of January 30, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation on the Execution by the Federal Service for Financial Markets of the State Function of the State Registration of the Issue (Additional Issue) of Emission Securities, Registration of Amendments to the Decision on the Issue (Additional Issue) and/or Prospectus of Securities, State Registration of the Report of the Results of Issue (Additional Issue) of Emission Securities, Registration of Prospectus of Securities

Endorses the Administrative Regulation defining the time limits and sequence of actions (administrative procedures) of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia, its territorial bodies and structural divisions, procedure of interaction of its structural divisions and officials in the course of execution of the state function of state registration of the issue (additional issue) of emission securities, registration of amendments to the decision on the issue (additional issue) and/or prospectus of securities, state registration of the report of the results of issue (additional issue) of emission securities, registration of prospectus of securities.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 28, 2007. Reg. 9558.

Federal Constitutional Law No. 4-FKZ of June 2, 2007 on the Amendment to Article 9 of the Federal Constitutional Law on the Forming of the New Subject of the Russian Federation As a Result of the Merger of the Irkutsk Province and the Ust-Ordynsk Buryat Autonomous District

Forms a new subject of the Russian Federation from January 1, 2008 - the Irkutsk Province - in compliance with the Federal Constitutional Law No. 6-FKZ of December 30, 2006 as a result of the merger of the two bordering subjects of the Russian Federation - the Irkutsk Province and the Ust-Ordynsk Buryat Autonomous District.
      The Federal Constitutional Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 86-FZ of June 2, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 24 of the Federal Law on the Retail Trade Market-Places and on the Amendments to the Labour Code of the Russian Federation

Until January 1, 2009, citizens that have auxiliary farming facilities and engaged in gardening, animal breeding will get trading stalls in all retail trade market-places according to the simplified procedure specified by the body of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Order of the Federal Customs Service No. 536 of April 25, 2007 on the Endorsement of the List of Documents and Information Necessary for the Customs Registration of Commodities under the Chosen Customs Regime

Pursuant to the reorganisation of the State Customs Committee of Russia into the Federal Customs Service of Russia and handing over to it of the function of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia of working out of the state policy and the normative and legal regulation in the customs sphere, endorses a new list of documents and information necessary for the customs registration of commodities under the chosen customs regime. The earlier available list endorsed by the Order of the State Customs Committee of Russia No. 1022 of September 16, 2003 (with subsequent amendments) is invalidated.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 1, 2007. Reg. No. 9585.

Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 39n of May 2, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Procedure for the Federal Service of Financial and Budget Enforcement to Carry out Revisions and Checks

Endorses the Instruction specifying the procedure for the Federal Service of Financial and Budget Enforcement to implement financial control directly or through its territorial bodies over the use of resources of the federal budget, resources of the state extra-budgetary funds, as well as material values available in the federal property, by carrying out revisions and checks.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 1, 2007. Reg. No. 9584.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 337 of May 31, 2007 on the Procedure of Determination of the Types of Specially Valuable Movable Property of the Autonomous Institution

Specifies the procedure of determination of the types of specially valuable movable property handed over to the autonomous institution they may not dispose of without approval of the founder.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-05-06-01/42 of May 14, 2007

Explains the issue of the deadlines of transfer of advance payments for the property tax from organisations.

Letter of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation No. 8167-YuT/07 of May 2, 2007 on the Transfer of Payment for the Dwelling Space and Communal Services

Explains the procedure of transfer of payment for the dwelling space and communal services.

Federal Law No. 87-FZ of June 5, 2007 on the Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation and the Federal Law on the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation

The Investigation Committee is created under the auspices of the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation with the functions of preliminary investigation in criminal cases.

Order of the Federal Registration Service No. 60 of April 25, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Specimens of Documents Necessary for the State Registration of a Political Party and Its Regional Division

Endorses new specimens of some documents necessary for the state registration of a political party created by its founding congress or by reorganisation of an all-Russia public organisation or an all-Russia public movement into a political party, as well as for the state registration of the regional division of the political party.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 5, 2007. Reg. No. 9600.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 124 of May 10, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Use of Forests for Agricultural Purposes

The Forestry Code of the Russian Federation permits to use forests (except for the green zones and forest parks) for agricultural purposes (haymaking, animal grazing, apiculture, plant growing and other agricultural activities).
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 5, 2007. Reg. No. 9593.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1827-U of May 14, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 255-P of March 29, 2004 on the Obligatory Reserves of Credit Organisations

Pursuant to the introduction of amendments to the Chart of Accounts of credit organisations, adjusts the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 255-P of March 29, 2004 on the obligatory reserves of credit organisations.
      The Direction is entered into force from July 1, 2007 and applies beginning with the estimate of obligatory reserves for the reporting period from July 1, 2007 through August 1, 2007.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 5, 2007. Reg. No. 9587.

Federal Law No. 91-FZ of June 6, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 103 and 141 of the Code of Criminal Execution of the Russian Federation and the Law of the Russian Federation on the Institutions and Bodies Executing Criminal Punishments in the Form of Detention

The Law implies a reorientation of the proceedings of the criminal execution system to provide assistance to convicts in social adoption.

Federal Law No. 90-FZ of June 6, 2007 on the Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation

The Federal Law provides for a further improvement of the legislation on criminal procedures where it pertains to the issues of preliminary investigation.

Federal Law No. 89-FZ of June 6, 2007 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the State Dactylographic Registration in the Russian Federation

The amendments remove legal inconsistencies in the Federal Law on the state dactylographic registration in the Russian Federation and the Federal Law on the foreign intelligence service.

Federal Law No. 88-FZ of June 6, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 177 of the Customs Code of the Russian Federation

According to Item 1 of Article 177 of the Customs Code of the Russian Federation, the time of processing of commodities on the customs territory is specified by the applicant in coordination with the customs body and may not be greater than 2 years. The amendments permit the Government of the Russian Federation to specify in addition the procedure of processing of commodities in excess of 2 years.
      The Federal Law is entered into force no sooner than one month after the day of official publication.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development No. 131 of April 23, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Administrative Regulation of the Federal Agency for the Management of Special Economic Zones on the Rendered State Service of Organisation of Issue of Permissions for Construction, As Well As Obtaining Technical Specifications for Connection to Engineering and Technical Support Networks and Handing over of These Specifications and Permissions for Construction to Independent Entrepreneurs, Legal Entities Engaged in Construction or Reconstruction

Endorses the Administrative Regulation of the Federal Agency for the Management of Special Economic Zones on the rendered state service including the following administrative procedures: obtaining technical specifications for connection to engineering and technical support networks and handing over of these specifications to independent entrepreneurs, legal entities engaged in construction or reconstruction, as well as organisation of issue of the permission for construction.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 29, 2007. Reg. No. 9573.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 353 of June 6, 2007 "Issues of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Communication and Protection of Cultural Heritage"

Specifies the sphere of reference and procedure of work of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Communication and Protection of Cultural Heritage newly created as a result of the reorganisation of the Federal Service of Enforcement of Observation of Legislation in the Sphere of Mass Communication and Protection of Cultural Heritage and the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Communication in pursuance of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 320 of March 12, 2007.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 342 of June 4, 2007 on the Amendments to the Methodology Recommendations for the Determination of the Consumer Basket for the Main Socio-Demographic Groups of Population for the Whole of the Russian Federation and the Subjects of the Russian Federation

The Methodology Recommendations for the determination of the consumer basket for the main socio-demographic groups of population for the whole of the Russian Federation and the subjects of the Russian Federation are being brought in compliance with the Federal Law on the consumer basket for the whole of the Russian Federation No. 44-FZ of March 31, 2006.

Order of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation No. 181 of May 8, 2007 on the Declassification of the Archive Documents of the Red Army and the Navy for the Period of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945

Declassifies archive documents of the Red Army and the Navy for the period of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 5, 2007. Reg. No. 9589.

Decision of the Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation No. 27 of May 11, 2007 on the Implementation of the International Medical and Sanitary Rules (2005)

The new wording of the International Medical and Sanitary Rules comes into force in June 2007 envisaging adoption of protective and control measures to prevent emergency situations of international significance in the sphere of public health.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 31, 2007. Reg. No. 9575.

Decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. 27 of May 31, 2007 on the Practice of Processing by the Courts of the Cases Challenging the Decisions of the Qualification Boards of Judges Calling to Account with Disciplinary Action the Courts of General Jurisdiction

According to Article 12.1 of the Law of the Russian Federation on the status of judges in the Russian Federation, a misdemeanour implying a disciplinary action in the form of a warning or an early termination of the authority of the judge is not only a violation of the norms of the mentioned Law and the provisions of the Code of Judges' Ethic, but also a violation of the commonly accepted moral norms, duties in the course of execution of justice, rules of conduct in the course of execution of other service duties and non-service activities.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 359 of June 9, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Terms of Qualifying the Dominating Position of the Financial Organisation (Except for the Credit Organisation) and the Rules of Determination of the Dominating Position of the Financial Organisation (Except for the Credit Organisation)

The dominating position of the financial organisation at the commodity market is the one permitting the given organisation to exert a decisive influence on the general terms of circulation of the appropriate financial service at the appropriate market and/or remove other economic subjects from the commodity market and/or impede access to the commodity market for them.
      The dominating position at the commodity market of several financial organisations forming a group of entities operating within the boundaries of the commodity market is qualified for the group in aggregate.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 of June 6, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Communication and Protection of Cultural Heritage

Endorses the Regulation defining the sphere of reference and the organisation of work of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Communication and Protection of Cultural Heritage created as a result of the reorganisation of the Federal Service of Enforcement of Observation of Legislation in the Sphere of Mass Communication and Protection of Cultural Heritage and the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Communication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 352 of June 6, 2007 on the Measures to Implement the Federal Law on the Combating of Terrorism

Endorses three Regulations defining the procedure of use by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation of arms and military equipment to remove the threat or stop a terrorist act in the air, in the internal waters, in the territorial sea, on the continental shelf of the Russian Federation, under the water, as well as in the course of antiterrorism operations.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 351 of June 6, 2007 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Federal Tax Service Endorsed by the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 506 of September 30, 2004

There is a new wording of the norms of Part I of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation being in effect from January 1, 2007 that defines the rights and duties of the tax bodies, procedure of payment of taxes and fees, the rules of tax checks, duties of the banks pertaining to registration of taxpayers and a number of other norms.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 78-T of June 1, 2007 on the Application of Item 5.1 of the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 254-P of March 26, 2004 on the Procedure for Credit Organisations to Form Reserves for Possible Losses in Loans, Debts in Loans and Similar Debts

Explains some issues of the procedure of calculation of the efficient percent rate for the purposes of the reserve for the portfolio of similar loans, as well as of conveying it to the borrower.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 358 of June 9, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Granting Subsidies in 2007 to the Budgets of the Subjects of the Russian Federation for Construction and Modernisation of Public-Use Motorways, Including the Ones in Residential Settlements (Except for the Highways of Federal Significance)

The federal budget for the year 2007 envisages subsidies to the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation for construction and modernisation of public-use highways, including the ones in residential settlements (except for the highways of federal significance), in the amount of Rbl 35,000,000.0 thousand, Rbl 3,500,000.0 thousand out of them for the regions of new housing construction. The Government of the Russian Federation specifies the rules of granting of the mentioned subsidies to the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 357 of June 9, 2007 on the Interim Rates of Import Customs Duties for Individual Types of Machinery, Equipment, Devices, Instruments and Parts Thereof

Introduces for 9 months the interim zero rates of import customs duties for individual types of machinery, equipment, devices, instruments and part thereof.
      The Decision is entered into force one month after the day of its official publication.

Order of the Federal Agency for Tourism No. 28 of May 10, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Introduction of the Joint Federal Register of Tour Operators

Pursuant to the introduction from June 1, 2007 in the sphere of tour operator activities of the mechanism of financial backing of the rights and legal interests of consumers of tourist services, envisages introduction of the Joint Federal Register of Tour Operators enjoying financial guarantees.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 8, 2007. Reg. No. 9619.

Order of the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communication of the Russian Federation No. 56 of May 24, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Use of the Means of Communication Intended for Remote Control of Paid Phones

According to the actual legislation, the means of communication used in a public-use communication network, technological communication networks and special-purpose communication networks, if they are connected to a public-use communication network, are subject on the obligatory basis to the confirmation of compliance with specified requirements.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 7, 2007. Reg. No. 9611.

Federal Law No. 98-FZ of June 7, 2007 on the Amendments to Article 6 of the Federal Law on the Federal Budget for the Year 2007

Article 6 of the Federal Law of the federal budget for the year 2007 envisages sources of generation of incomes of the federal budget received in 2007. The Article is extended to include provisions empowering the territorial bodies of the Federal Treasury with authority to distribute resources received from the OAO Oil Company YUKOS in redemption of the debt in taxes, fees, other payments, penalties and fines among the budgets of the Russian budget system according to the normatives specified in the budget legislation of the Russian Federation.
      The Federal Law is entered into force from the day of its official publication.

Federal Law No. 97-FZ of June 7, 2007 on the Ratification of the Protocol on the Amendments to the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan of the Procedure of Use of the 4th State Central Testing Grounds (Objects and Combat Fields Located on the Territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan) of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation of January 20, 1995

Ratifies the Protocol having amended the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the procedure of use of the 4th State Central Testing Grounds (objects and combat fields located on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan) of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation of January 20, 1995 signed in Moscow on April 4, 2006.

Federal Law No. 96-FZ of June 7, 2007 on the Ratification of the Protocol on the Amendments to the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Terms of Use and Leasing of the Testing Grounds of Sary Shagan and Support of the City of Priozersk of January 20, 1995

The ratified Protocol signed in Moscow on April 4, 2006 amends the mentioned Agreement where it pertains to the organisational staff measures and the new terms of testing and functioning of the testing grounds of Sary Shagan, as well as refines the procedure of determination of the status of the military formations of these testing grounds.

Federal Law No. 95-FZ of June 7, 2007 on the Ratification of the Protocol on the Amendments to the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Procedure of Use of the 929 State Flight Testing Centre (Objects and Combat Fields Located on the Territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan) of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation of January 20, 1995

Ratifies the Protocol on the amendments to the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the procedure of use of the 929 State Flight Testing Centre (objects and combat fields) located on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan) of the Ministry of Defence of Russia.

Federal Law No. 94-FZ of June 7, 2007 on the Ratification of the Protocol on the Amendments to the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Terms of Use and Leasing of Testing Grounds of Emba of January 20, 1995

The ratified Protocol brings the provisions of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the terms of use and leasing of the testing grounds of Emba in compliance with the new terms of leasing and use of the mentioned testing grounds by the Russian Federation, carried out organisational and staff measures to unite the testing grounds and change the status of the mentioned testing grounds.

Federal Law No. 93-FZ of June 7, 2007 on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Greek Republic on the Cooperation in Construction and Operation of the Oil Pipeline Burgas-Alexandroupolis

Ratifies the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Greek Republic on the cooperation in construction and operation of the oil pipeline Burgas-Alexandroupolis.

Federal Law No. 92-FZ of June 7, 2007 on the Accession of the Russian Federation to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is a permanent body of international justice in charge of disputes of application and interpretation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Federal Law No. 100-FZ of June 15, 2007 on the Amendments to Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Federal Law on the General Principles of Organisation of Local Government in the Russian Federation

According to the amendments, issues of local significance of a residential settlement and urban district shall include issuance of permissions for construction, permissions to put objects in operation in the course of construction, reconstruction, capital repair of objects of capital construction located respectively on the territories of residential settlements and territories of urban districts. Provisions pertaining to the authority of the municipal region in the sphere of land planning and city planning activities on the intermediate territories are excluded.

Federal Law No. 99-FZ of June 7, 2007 on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Member-States of the North Atlantic Treaty and Other States Participating in the Program "Partnership for Peace", on the Status of Their Forces of June 19, 1995 and of the Additional Protocol to It

The goal of the ratified Agreement is adjustment of the issue of the status of forces participating in the measures in the sphere of military and technical cooperation Russia-NATO arranged both on the territory of the Russian Federation and abroad.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 372 of June 14, 2007 on the Interim Rates of the Import Customs Duties for Radio Frequency (Coaxial) Cables

Changes the code of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation from 8544 20 000 0 to 8544 20 000 for coaxial cables and other coaxial electric conductors. New subheadings are introduced in the mentioned heading.
      The Decision is entered into force 2 months after the day of its official publication. Before this date, the import of the above commodities is subject to the rate of 5% of the customs cost.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 371 of June 14, 2007 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 332 of June 30, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Federal Service for Tariff Rates

Pursuant to the introduction in the Federal Service for Tariff Rates of the management board for taking decisions to fix the prices (tariff rates) and/or their limiting levels in the sphere of activities of the subjects of natural monopolies, amends the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation having endorsed the Regulation on the Federal Service for Tariff Rates of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 369 of June 12, 2007 on the Amendment to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 795 of December 23, 1006 Having Endorsed the Rate of the Export Customs Duty for Other Coke and Black Coal Semicoke

Endorses the zero rate of the export customs duty for other coke and black coal semicoke (code of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 2704 00 190 0) exported from the territory of the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements.
      The Decision is entered into force 1 month after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 368 of June 12, 2007 on the Interim Rate of the Import Customs Duty for Durable Polyester Filaments

Introduces for 9 months the zero rate of the import customs duty for durable polyester filaments (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 5402 20 000 0). The import of the mentioned commodities at present is subject to the rate of 10% 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. 360 of June 9, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Conclusion and Execution of Public Contracts of Connection to Systems of Communal Infrastructure

Introduces the rules defining the procedure of conclusion, changing and execution of the contract for connection of the constructed, reconstructed or already constructed but not yet connected building, structure or another object of capital construction to engineering support networks forming the system of communal infrastructure including power, heat, gas, water supplies, water disposal and purification of waste water.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 768 of June 15, 2007 on the Amendments to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1315 of October 13, 2004 "Issues of the Federal Registration Service" and the Regulation Endorsed by this Decree

The functions of enforcement of activities of self-regulating organisations of assessors are vested in the Federal Registration Service.
      The Decree is entered into force from the day of its signing, except for the provisions on the increase of the staff of the federal service and its territorial bodies entering into force from January 1, 2008.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 367 of May 31, 2007 on the Measures to Implement Article 54 of the Federal Law on the Fishing and Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources

Specifies the rules of sale and destruction of confiscated aquatic biological resources and products of their processing.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. MM-3-03/299@ of May 14, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Documents Used by Tax Bodies When Implementing Their Authority in Relations Regulated by Legislation on Taxes and Fees

According to the tax legislation, the surplus of tax exemption over the accrued amount of excise duty is subject to offsetting or return.
      Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June 13, 2007. Reg. No. 9638.

Order of the Central Bank of Russia No. OD-415 of June 8, 2007 on the Regulation on the Functioning of the System of Urgent Electronic Bank Payments (BESP)

The BESP system is functioning in the payment network of the Bank of Russia and is intended for making urgent payments in the currency of the Russian Federation of the Bank of Russia, credit organisations (their branches), clients of the Central Bank of Russia not being credit organisations (their branches) and for providing for real-time continuous payments on the gross basis.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 81-T of June 8, 2007 on the Terms of Contracts Defining the Rights and Duties of the Credit Organisation (Its Branch), Another Client of the Bank of Russia Not Being a Credit Organisation (Its Branch) and the Bank of Russia Emerging When Making Payments through the System of Real-Time Gross Payments of the Bank of Russia

Defines the terms to be included in the contracts defining the rights and duties of the credit organisation (its branch), another client of the Bank of Russia and the Bank of Russia emerging when making payments through the system of real-time gross payments of the Bank of Russia known as the system of urgent electronic bank payments (BESP).

Information of the Central Bank of Russia of June 18, 2007

From June 19, 2007, the rate of refinancing (bank rate) of the Bank of Russia is reduced from 10.5% to 10% annual. The previous reduction of the bank rate occurred on January 29, 2007 (from 11% to 10.5%).

Federal Law No. 101-FZ of June 18, 2007 on the Amendments to Individual Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation on Activities of Legislative (Representative) Bodies of State Power of Subjects of the Russian Federation and Representative Bodies of Municipal Formations

The amendments introduce additional reasons for an early termination of authority of the legislative body of the subject of the Russian Federation and representative body of the municipal formation.
      The Federal Law is entered into force 30 days after the day of its official publication.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 376 of June 18, 2007 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Creation and Liquidation of Gambling Zones

Defines the procedure for taking decisions on the creation and liquidation of gambling zones.