Monitoring of the Federal Legislation dated 31.05.2005

Ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 21-O of February 24, 2005 on the Refusal to Accept for Consideration the Appeal of Citizen A.A.Mikhalin against Violation of his Constitutional Rights by Article 4 of the Law of the Kaliningrad Province on the System of Taxation in the Form of the Uniform Imputed Income Tax for Individual Types of Activities

In his appeal, the applicant stated that the amount of the uniform tax calculated on the basis of the mentioned Law was in excess of the amount of income actually received by him, which impedes entrepreneurial activities.

The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation explained that the uniform imputed income tax in its nature is not aimed at impairing taxpayer status, but its introduction and calculation must provide for implementation of such principle of the tax legislation as taking into account the taxpayer actual ability to pay the tax.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 258 of April 27, 2005 on the Paying out in 2005 of the Preliminary Compensation (Compensation) under the Deposits in the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation to Individual Categories of Citizens of the Russian Federation

Defines the procedure of paying out in 2005 to individual categories of citizens of the Russian Federation of the preliminary compensation (compensation) under the deposits in the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation as of June 20, 1991 being their guaranteed savings.

The preliminary compensation in the amount of up to Rbl 1,000 is paid out to citizens born until 1950 inclusive, group I invalids, group II invalids (born until 1960 inclusive), parents, as well as trustees, of invalid children, invalids from childhood, as well as the parents whose sons have undergone draft military service and were killed (diseased) during their service in peacetime. The first priority heirs of the mentioned persons shall get the preliminary compensation regardless of the age of the diseased holder of the deposits.

The preliminary compensation includes Rbl 1,000 (proceeding form the nominal value of the banknotes in 1991) from the deposit exceeding this amount or the whole of the deposit if its amount is not greater than Rbl 1,000. The amount of the preliminary compensation is being indexed depending on the length of its keeping.

Besides, the mentioned citizens shall get compensation in the amount of the residue of the deposits as of June 20, 1991 (proceeding form the nominal value of the banknotes in 1991). The amount of the compensation shall also depend on the length of their keeping.

Participants and invalids of the Great Patriotic War, as well as their heirs, shall also get an additional compensation in the amount of the residue of the deposits as of June 20, 1991.

The Decision specifies the particulars of paying out of the compensation under the deposits to pay for the ritual services.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 257 of April 27, 2005 on the Procedure and Amounts of Reimbursement of Court Expenses Suffered by Citizens and/or Associations of Citizens, As Well As Their Representatives, Because of Participation in Constitutional Proceedings

If a federal law, law of the subject of the Russian Federation or individual provisions of the mentioned laws are recognised as not complying with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, reimbursement of the court expenses to those applying to the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation shall be made at the expense of resources of the federal budget or the budget of the subject of the Russian Federation having adopted the law.

Reimbursement to applicants and their representatives applies to travelling expenses to the place where they apply and back to the place of residence (service), lodging expenses, daily allowance, compensation for the actual loss of time pertaining to visits to the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, postal expenses and the state duty.

Order of the Federal Antimonopoly Service No. 12 of February 2, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Processing of Cases of Violation of the Antimonopoly Legislation

Specifies organisational and legal fundamentals of processing of cases of violation of the antimonopoly legislation by the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia and its territorial bodies.

The grounds for initiation and processing of the cases of violations of the antimonopoly legislation may include representations of the bodies, applications of organisations and natural persons. The cases of violation of the antimonopoly legislation may be processed by the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia at their own initiative, including the results of carried out checks.

The decision or order of the antimonopoly body may be appealed against within 3 months from the day of its adoption or issue.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 26, 2005. Reg. No. 6557.

Order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation No. 38 of April 12, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Instruction on the Procedure of Execution of Punishments and Measures of Criminal Nature without Detention

Defines organisation of work of the criminal execution inspections in execution of punishments in the form of deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities, obligatory works, corrective labour, control over the convicts on probation, convicted expecting mothers and mothers of children up to fourteen years of age waiting delayed punishment, as well as prevention of crimes and other violations by the persons registered in inspections.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 25, 2005. Reg. No. 6542.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 275 of April 30, 2005 on the Control over the Quality of Grain and Products of Its Processing When Importing to the Russian Federation and Exporting form the Russian Federation

The federal state institution "Federal Centre of Assessment of Safety and Quality of Grain and Products of Its Processing" supervised by the Federal Service of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Enforcement is empowered for three months with the function of issue of certificates of quality of grain and products of its processing at import and export.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 273 of April 30, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Paying out of Additional Monthly Material Support to Some Categories of Citizens of the Russian Federation in View of the 60th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45

Additional monthly material support in the amount of Rbl 1,000 shall be paid out to the invalids of the Great Patriotic War, former underage prisoners of concentration camps, ghettos and other places of imprisonment created by the fascists and their allies during World War II.

Additional monthly material support in the amount of Rbl 500 shall be paid out to servicemen having undergone military service from June 22, 1941 to September 3, 1945 for at least 6 months in military units, institutions, military educational institutions other than those involved in action, servicemen awarded with the orders or medals of the USSR for the service in the mentioned period.

Widows of servicemen killed during the war with Finland, Great Patriotic War and war with Japan, widows of diseased invalids, persons awarded with the badge "Resident of Blockaded Leningrad", as well as the former grown up prisoners of nazi concentration camps, prisons and ghettos shall get additional support in the amount of Rbl 500.

Applying for the additional monthly material support, its assigning and paying out is arranged according to the procedure specified for the assigning and paying out of the appropriate pension or monthly permanent alimony of judges.

Additional monthly material support shall be assigned and paid out from May 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 267 of April 28, 2005 on the Amendment to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 72 of February 10, 2004

The time limit for the entry into force of the amendments stating that medicines are excluded from the list of commodities subject to obligatory certification and included in the list of commodities requiring compliance declaration is shifted from May 1, 2005 to May 1, 2006.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 266 of April 28, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Form of the Application for the Rearrangement of the Dwelling Space and the Form of the Document Confirming Adoption of the Decision Coordinating the Rearrangement of the Dwelling Space

Endorses the form of the application for the rearrangement of the dwelling space to be submitted to the body of local government together with the documents of title for the dwelling space, rearrangement project, technical certificate, agreement of the leaseholder family members and the statement of the body in charge of protection of monuments of architecture, history and culture.

Also endorses the form of the documents confirming the adoption of the decision coordinating the rearrangement of the dwelling space.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 237 of April 19, 2005 on the Exemption from the Customs Fees for the Customs Registration of Professional Equipment Moved Across the Customs Border of the Russian Federation to Cover the Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45

Exemption from the customs fees for the cases of temporary import and back export (re-export) applies to the professional equipment moved from April 20, 2005 to May 15, 2005 by representatives of foreign mass media accredited to cover the official and other events in view of the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-02-02/50 of March 18, 2005

Independent entrepreneurs applying the system of taxation for agricultural producers, before amendments are introduced in Chapter 26.1 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, may apply the procedure of keeping records of incomes, expenses and economic operations similar to the one used by taxpayers applying the simplified system of taxation.

Decision of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 13592/04 of March 29, 2005

The taxpayer having paid on the voluntary basis arrears in taxes, as well as penalties and fines, in compliance with the decision of the tax inspection later recognised as erroneous may return the transferred amount together with the interest.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1572-U of April 12, 2005 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

The amendments envisage the offsetting of the residues of monetary resources available not only on the correspondent account of the parent office of the credit organisation, but also on the correspondent subaccounts of its branches opened in the Bank of Russia as an execution of the duty of credit organisations to level the obligatory reserves.

The Direction is entered into force from June 1, 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 28, 2005. Reg. No. 6561.

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia, Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 70-T, 01-SSh/54 of April 28, 29, 2005 on the Bank Reserves Built in Compliance with the Regulation of the Bank of Russia No. 254-P of March 26, 2004

In the reserve for the debts in loans available before August 1, 2004 as a standard one (group one risk) according to the Instruction of the Bank of Russia No. 62a of June 30, 1997 and transferred to quality categories 2 to 5 according to the Regulation No. 254-P, amounts of the earlier created reserve failing to reduce the taxable base for the profit tax should be restored by the incomes exempted from taxation, while building simultaneously a new reserve qualifying it as expenses reducing the taxable base. Reserves by portfolios of homogenous loans are built in a similar way.

Letter of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 05-OV-03/5060 of April 6, 2005 on the Payment for the Stocks in Foreign Currencies

Since normative acts of the Bank of Russia do not envisage at present opportunities of paying with foreign currencies for the internal securities and do not specify a procedure for carrying out currency operations with internal securities, payment for the stocks placed by Russian joint-stock companies in foreign currencies shall not be permitted.

Letter of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 05-OV-03-3/5067 of April 6, 2005 on the Payment Documents to Pay the State Duty for the Legally Significant Actions Pertaining to the State Registration of the Issues (Additional Issues) of Securities, As Well As Other Actions Envisaged in Item 1 of Article 333.33 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

Provides information on the filling of the payment documents used to pay the state duty by the persons involved in legally significant actions pertaining to the state registration of issues (additional issues) of securities.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-01-04/1/137 of March 30, 2005

Expenses for the payment of the state duty for the registration of the transport vehicle shall be included in other expenses pertaining to sale and not included in the initial cost of the main vehicle.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-03-01-02/94 of March 29, 2005

Repayment supplement to the actual earnings in excess of the amounts reimbursed by insurance payments and payments of the employer, however, not greater than Rbl 12,480, must be taken into account for profit taxation purposes as labour remuneration expenses.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 281 of May 4, 2005 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 78 of January 24, 1995

Organisations licensed to produce blank forms of securities, as well as to make printed items protected against forgery, including blank forms of securities, as well as to sell the mentioned items, shall present to the Federal Tax Service of Russia on the monthly basis 6 copies of all produced blank forms together with attached quality certificates. Earlier, the blank forms must have been presented to the Ministry of Finance of Russia.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 280 of May 4, 2005 on the Paying out in 2005 to Individual Categories of Citizens of the Russian Federation of the Preliminary Compensation (Compensation) on the Deposits (Contributions) in the State Insurance Organisations (Open-Type Joint-Stock Company "Russian State Insurance Company" and the Companies of the Rosgosstrakh System)

Preliminary compensation on the deposits (contributions) shall be paid out in the amount of Rbl 1,000 to citizens born until 1950 inclusive, group I invalids, group II invalids born until 1960 inclusive, parents and trustees of invalid children and invalids from childhood, as well as the parents whose sons have undergone draft military service and were killed (diseased) during the service in peacetime. The compensation shall be paid out from September 1, 2005.

The preliminary compensation shall include either Rbl 1,000 of the deposit (contribution) for each insurance contract if the amount of the deposit (contribution) transferred (paid) as of January 1, 1992 (proceeding from the nominal value of the currency notes in 1991) is equal to or greater than Rbl 1,000, or the whole of the deposit (contribution) if its amount is not greater than Rbl 1,000.

The amount of the preliminary compensation on the deposits (contributions) depends on the year of termination of the insurance contract and the year of paying out of the insurance (buy out) amount to the holder of the deposits (contributions) and is determined using the attached scale of coefficients.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 279 of May 3, 2005 on the Radio Frequency Service

The State Radio Frequency Service of the Ministry of Information and Communication of Russia shall be renamed into the Radio Frequency Service and handed over to the Federal Agency for Communication. The Radio Frequency Service shall form a uniform system including the Main Radio Frequency Centre supervised by the Federal Agency for Communication (Moscow City) and the radio frequency centres of the federal districts. The task of the Radio Frequency Service is implementation of organisational and technical measures to ensure a proper use of radio frequencies or radio frequency channels, radio electronic means and/or high-frequency devices of civilian destination.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 278 of May 3, 2005 on Additional Restrictions on the Investing of Savings for the Housing Support of Servicemen and the Maximum Shares in the Aggregate Investment Portfolio of Individual Classes of Assets

Specifies the maximum shares of individual classes of assets in the aggregate investment portfolio of the management companies in charge of the trust control of the savings for the housing support of servicemen. Thus, the maximum share for the state securities of the subjects of the Russian Federation amounts to 40%, for the stocks of Russian issuers created in the form of open-type joint-stock companies: 45% in 2005, 55% in 2006, and 65% from 2007 on.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAE-3-02/173@ of April 21, 2005 on the Invalidation of the Methodology Recommendations on the Application of Chapter 25 "Profit Tax from Organisations" of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

Invalidates the Methodology Recommendations on the Application of Chapter 25 "Profit Tax from Organisations" of the Tax Code endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-02/729 of December 20, 2002 with amendments.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. 03-1-03/474/13 of March 31, 2005 on the Value Added Tax

Free distribution of products of mass media, as well as their distribution on the paid basis, shall be qualified as a sale of commodities (works, services) and shall form an object of taxation for the value added tax according to the commonly accepted procedure.

Federal Law No. 49-FZ of May 9, 2005 on the Amendment to Article 185 of the Budget Code of the Russian Federation

The amendment removes a technical and legal error in the reference of Article 185 of the Budget Code.

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

Federal Law No. 48-FZ of May 9, 2005 on the Amendments to the Federal Laws on the Investing of Resources to Finance the Accumulated Part of the Labour Pension in the Russian Federation, on Non-State Pension Funds and on the Personified Record Keeping in the System of Obligatory Pension Insurance

Changes the procedure and time limits of implementation by the insured of the right of choice of the investment portfolio (management company) or a non-state pension fund providing obligatory pension insurance and for the transfer to the Pension Fund from a non-state pension fund providing obligatory pension insurance.

Changes the time limits of informing of the insured of the condition of the special part of his personal account and the results of investments from July 1 to September 1, and the time limits for submission of the application of the insured for the choice of the investment portfolio (management company) from October 1 to December 31.

Specifies that the form of the application and its filling instruction shall be conveyed to the insured according to the procedure defined by the authorised federal body in coordination with the Pension Fund.

The Government of the Russian Federation may specify the procedure and time limits to pay out the amounts of accumulated pensions to the heirs of the diseased insured, as well as the procedure of making such payments and calculation of the amounts of accumulated pensions to be paid out.

Defines the actions of the Pension Fund if the insured submits more than one application for the choice of the investment portfolio (management company) or a non-state pension fund.

Federal Law No. 47-FZ of May 9, 2005 on the Amendments to Article 73 of the Criminal Execution Code of the Russian Federation

The changes envisage opportunities of sending the persons convicted for the organised crime or crimes associated with terrorism to serve the term in appropriate corrective institutions in localities defined by the federal body of the criminal execution system. According to the previous wording of the Article, the persons convicted for the mentioned crimes served the term in corrective institutions within the boundaries of the subject of the Russian Federation where they lived or were sentenced.

Federal Law No. 46-FZ of May 9, 2005 on the Invalidation of Part 4 of Article 115 of the Criminal Execution Code of the Russian Federation

Article 115 of the Criminal Execution Code defines the types of punishments applied to those sentenced to imprisonment. Part 4 of the mentioned Article envisage that heavier terms of imprisonment may be applied to repeated violators both in the same corrective colony or by changing the type of the corrective institution. The given norm is invalidated as not pertaining in its legal nature to the specified punishments.

Federal Law No. 45-FZ of May 9, 2005 on the Amendments to the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation and Other Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation, As Well As on Invalidation of Some of the Provisions of the Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation

The amendments specify the procedure of administrative suspension of activities of independent entrepreneurs, legal entities, their branches, representations, structural divisions, production sections, as well as operation of units, objects, buildings or structures, carrying out of individual types of activities (works), rendering of services. This punishment may be applied for the period from one day to ninety days in cases envisaged in the articles of the Special Part of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Russian Federation for the violations jeopardising the life and health of people or creating other heavy hazards.

Execution of the administrative punishment in the form of an administrative suspension of activities may be lifted ahead of the term by the court at the request of the legal entity or independent entrepreneur, if the court finds out that further execution of the punishment is not necessary to achieve the goal of the punishment.

Since the violation committed by the legal entity or independent entrepreneur may bring about a situation requiring an immediate suspension of their activities, a temporary prohibition of their activities is envisaged as a measure in cases of administrative violations. The period of the temporary prohibition of activities may not be greater than five days.

Since the authority of the bodies of state power in the sphere of suspension of activities of economic subjects is envisaged in other acts of the federal legislation, appropriate adjustment of the norms of the Labour, Civil, Water, Forestry Codes is envisaged in pursuance of the mentioned amendments to the Code of Administrative Violations, as well as of the Federal Laws on the protection of the environment, on the protection of the atmospheric air, on the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population, on the quality and safety of foodstuffs, on the industrial safety of hazardous industrial objects, on the militia and a number of other.

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

Federal Law No. 44-FZ of May 9, 2005 on the Execution of the Budget of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for the Year 2003

Endorses the report of execution of the budget of the Pension Fund for the year 2003 with incomes amounting to Rbl 843,140.8 million and expenses amounting to Rbl 804,076.4 million.

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

Federal Law No. 43-FZ of May 9, 2005 on the Amendment to Article 5 of the Federal Law on the Privatisation of the State and Municipal Property

Lifts the prohibition for the state and municipal unitary enterprises, state and municipal institutions, as well as the legal entities where the share of the Russian Federation, its subjects and municipal formations in the registered capital is greater than 25%, to purchase land plots qualified as the state or municipal property housing objects of immovable property owned by them not being unauthorised constructions.

Federal Law No. 42-FZ of May 9, 2005 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Status of the Member of the Council of the Federation and the Status of the Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Changes the norms specifying the procedure of maintaining relations of the deputies of the State Duma with the electorate. The deputies elected in the single-mandate election districts shall maintain their relations with the electorate of their districts. The deputies elected in the federal election districts shall maintain their relations with the electorate in the subject (subjects) of the Russian Federation defined by the deputy association or by them independently.

The greater part of the amendments is aimed at providing material and financial conditions for the implementation of their authority by the members of the Council of the Federation and the deputies of the State Duma. The volume of payments is determined on the basis of the list of expenses for material support specified on the annual basis respectively by the decisions of the Council of the Federation, State Duma within the limits of resources envisaged in the federal law on the federal budget.

A new wording is provided for the articles dedicated to the use of the means of communication and transport vehicles by the members of the Council of the Federation, deputies of the State Duma, as well as the use of dwelling space in Moscow. Specifies, in particular, that communal services shall be paid for by the members of the Council of the Federation and the deputies of the State Duma from their own resources.

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

Federal Law No. 41-FZ of May 8, 2005 on the Amendments to the Federal Law on the Veterans

The amendments bring the norms of the Federal Law on the veterans pertaining to calculation of the time limits of providing leaves in compliance with the Labour Code specifying the mentioned time limits in calendar days.

Besides, the period of unpaid leave that may be granted to invalids is increased from 30 to 60 days. The length of unpaid leave is increased from 14 working days to 35 calendar days during the year for servicemen having undergone military service for at least six months in the military units, institutions, military educational institutions other than those participating in military actions from June 22, 1941 to September 3, 1945, as well as for servicemen awarded with orders and medals of the USSR for the service in the mentioned period.

Decision of the Presidium of the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation No. 14452/04 of April 12, 2005

The Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation decides to make it necessary to apply a uniform for the natural persons and legal entities 6-months-long period of limitation for collection of amounts of arrears in taxes according to court proceedings. According to the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, application for collection of arrears from the legal entity may be submitted to court by the tax bodies within 6 months after expiry of the period of execution of the requirement of collection of the tax as specified in Item 3 of Article 48 of the Tax Code for natural persons. The mentioned period is of preclusive nature, i.e. may not be resorted, and if expired, the court shall refuse to satisfy the claim of the tax body to the legal entity. The partial payment of the debt by the taxpayer shall not terminate this period.

Order of the Federal Antimonopoly Service No. 38 of March 10, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Adoption by the Antimonopoly Body of the Decisions to Arrange an Additional Check of the Notifications of Agreements or Coordinated Actions of Financial Organisations Restricting Competition at the Market of Financial Services

Defines the terms of adoption of decisions to arrange additional checks of available notifications and of all documents on agreements or coordinated actions of financial organisations restricting competition at the market of financial services.

The antimonopoly body may decide to arrange an additional check if in the course of examination of the documents on agreements or coordinated actions of financial organisations restricting competition at the market of financial services the facts are revealed permitting to affect directly or indirectly the decision recognising such agreements as valid or restricting competition at the market of financial services.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 3, 2005. Reg. No. 6568.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 531 of May 8, 2005 on the Military Uniform and Military and Agency Insignia

Endorses the Regulation on the military uniform of the servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other forces, military formations and bodies, as well as provides their insignia. Essential signs of the military uniform include design and colour of the uniform and munitions, decorative elements of specified colours - braids, trouser stripes, cap-bands, shoulder loops, collar patches, as well as ancillaries of specified types and shoulder straps.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 292 of May 7, 2005 on the Indexing in 2005 of the Amounts of Compensations and Other Payments to Citizens Having Been Exposed to Radiation Because of the Disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station

From January 1, 2005, amounts of individual compensations and other payments to citizens having been exposed to radiation because of the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station will be indexed using the factor of 1.08 proceeding from the level of inflation specified in the Federal Law on the federal budget for the year 2005. Amounts of compensations and payment are provided.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 291 of May 6, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Licensing of Activities of Sale of Electric Power to Citizens

Defines the procedure of licensing of activities of legal entities to sale electric power to citizens, including the complex of measures to provide efficient, uninterrupted and reliable supplies of electric power to the mentioned categories of users.

The licensing is vested in the Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement. The license is issued for five years. The licensing body may suspend the license if repeated violations of the license requirements and terms by the license holder are revealed.

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 284 of May 4, 2005 on the State Registration of the Results of Scientific Research, Design and Technological Works of Civil Destination

Providing for the state registration of the results of scientific and technical activities shall be obligatory for the federal bodies of executive power, Russian academies of sciences possessing the state status, other organisations financing scientific and technical activities under the state contracts using the estimates of incomes and expenses and at the expense of resources allocated in the form of subventions, as well as for executing organisations engaged in scientific and technical activities and their co-executors. The state registration shall include the keeping of databases of clients and the uniform register of results of scientific and technical activities. The objects of the databases for the registration shall include particular results of scientific and technical activities including, in particular, description of individual particulars of the object of registration permitting to differentiate it from other objects of registration. The keeping of the register shall be vested in the Federal Agen cy for Science and Innovations.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 05-10/pz-n of April 15, 2005 on the Contest for the Choice of the Specialised Depositary to Conclude the Contract for the Services of the Specialised Depositary with the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation and the Contest for the Choice of the Management Companies to Conclude the Contract of Trust Control of Resources of Accumulated Pensions with the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation

Endorses the Regulation on the contest commission to arrange the contest for the choice of the specialised depositary and the contest for the choice of the management companies to conclude the mentioned contracts with the Pension Fund. Also provides the forms of the notification of the arranged contest and applications for participation in the contest.

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

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 3, 2005. Reg. No. 6567.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 24 of March 30, 2005 on the Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 110 of October 2, 2000

Amends the procedure of application of the air navigation and airport fees, tariff rates for the servicing of air vessels of operators of the Russian Federation in the airports and air space of the Russian Federation. Specifies that the fee for the air navigation servicing in the vicinity of the airfield and the fee for take-off and landing are collected in the amount of 25% of the actual level only in cases of airfield training of the pilots of operators of the Russian Federation. Earlier, the mentioned fee was collected also for the landing of air vessels on an alternate airfield because of the weather conditions.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 29, 2005. Reg. No. 6563.

Order of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation No. 70 of April 5, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Accreditation of Organisations of Technical Registration and Technical Inventory Taking of Objects of Capital Construction by the Federal Agency of Cadastre of Objects of Immovable Property

The endorsed Regulation shall define the procedure of accreditation of organisations of technical registration and technical inventory taking of objects of capital construction.

The accreditation shall be arranged to confirm availability of the necessary material and technical support with the mentioned organisations, as well as to provide guarantees of their responsibility to the interested parties and determine opportunities of arranging technical registration and technical inventory taking of objects of capital contraction.

The Order lists the requirements to organisations to obtain the accreditation, provides the list of the documents to be submitted to the Federal Agency of Cadastre of Objects of Immovable Property. The time limit for examination of the issue of accreditation may not be greater than 20 working days from the day of receiving of all necessary documents.

Organisations earlier accredited with the Federal Agency of Cadastre of Objects of Immovable Property for activities in technical inventory taking of objects of city-planning activities shall provide for the technical inventory taking of objects of capital contraction on the basis of the earlier issued certificates of accreditation while observing the requirements of the Regulation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 28, 2005. Reg. No. 6562.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 62 of March 15, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Processing of Requests for the Right of Use of Subsoil Resources for the Purpose of Geological Surveys of the Parts of Subsoil Resources of Internal Sea Waters, Territorial Sea and the Continental Shelf of the Russian Federation

The endorsed procedure shall regulate the processing of requests for the right of use of subsoil resources for the purpose of geological surveys of the parts of subsoil resources of internal sea waters, territorial sea and the continental shelf of the Russian Federation.

The right of use of the parts of subsoil resources emerges on the basis of the decision of the Federal Agency for the Use of Subsoil Resources as a result of examination of the request.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 26, 2005. Reg. No. 6560.

Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation No. 61 of March 15, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Processing of Requests for the Right of Use of Subsoil Resources for the Purpose of Geological Surveys of the Parts of Subsoil Resources

The endorsed procedure shall regulate the processing of requests for the right of use of subsoil resources for the purpose of geological surveys of the parts of subsoil resources except for the parts of subsoil resources of internal sea waters, territorial sea and the continental shelf of the Russian Federation.

The right of use of subsoil resources for the purpose of geological surveys emerges on the basis of the decision of the commission created by the Federal Agency for the Use of Subsoil Resources including also representatives of the body of executive power of the appropriate subject of the Russian Federation for the purpose of processing of requests for the right of use of the parts of subsoil resources.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on April 26, 2005. Reg. No. 6559.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. ShT-6-10/371@ of May 3, 2005 on the Blank Forms of Payment Documents

Territorial banks and divisions of the Savings Bank of Russia in the city of Moscow shall accept payment documents of the old type form N PD (tax) together with the new ones until July 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 293 of May 12, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the State Control over Geological Surveys, Rational Use and Protection of Subsoil Resources

Specifies the procedure of state control over geological surveys, rational use and protection of subsoil resources and defines the bodies in charge of the state geological control, their authority, rights, duties and procedure of work.

The state geological control shall be vested in the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Use of Natural Resources being the body of state geological control, Federal Service of Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Enforcement begin the body of state mining enforcement and their territorial bodies in interaction with other control bodies, as well as the bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 31 of April 18, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Federal Aviation Rules "Objects of the Uniform Air Traffic System"

The rules shall specify the list of objects of the uniform air traffic system. The rules shall apply to objects available in the federal property and handed over for economic management to organisations of civil aviation providing for the activities of the operative bodies of the uniform air traffic system of the Russian Federation.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 6, 2005. Reg. No. 6585.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 246 of March 31, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Forms of Nomination of the Citizen of the Russian Federation for the Breast Badge of "Honourable Donor of Russia" and the List of the Documents Confirming the Facts of Donation of Blood or Blood Plasma

Endorses the following forms of documents: Form 446-05/u "List of the Names of Donors Nominated for the Breast Badge of "Honourable Donor of Russia"", Form 447-05/u "Logbook of Donors Awarded with the Breast Badge of "Honourable Donor of Russia" for the Year ___ ", Form 448-05/u "Certificate of the Amount of Donated Blood or Blood Plasma", Form 405-05/u "Donor Registration Card (Active, Reserve, Relative)", Form 76/u "Information of the Number of Citizens Awarded with the Breast Badge of "Honourable Donor of Russia" or "Honourable Donor of the USSR" Reregistered on the Territory of the Subject of the Russian Federation".

Provides explanations pertaining to the nomination of the citizens of the Russian Federation for the breast badge of "Honourable Donor of Russia", as well as the specimen and description of the certificate to the breast badge of "Honourable Donor of Russia".

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 3, 2005. Reg. No. 6566.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 480 of April 30, 2005 on the Interagency Commission for the Prisoners of War, Interned and Missing in Action

Forms the Interagency Commission for the Prisoners of War, Interned and Missing in Action instead of the Commission of the President of the Russian Federation for the Prisoners of War, Interned and Missing in Action.

Organisational and technical support for the activities of the Interagency Commission for the Prisoners of War, Interned and Missing in Action is vested in the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.

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

Order of the Central Bank of Russia No. OD-263 of April 20, 2005 on the Correction Coefficients of the Bank of Russia

Specifies adjustment factor of 0.8 to be applied for the estimate of the cost of backing for the credits of the Bank of Russia to adjust the market value of the loan bonds of the city of Moscow with the state registration numbers of issues RU27041MOS, RU25042MOS.

The adjustment factor shall apply 10 days after the day of publication of the Order in the Herald of the Bank of Russia.

Ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 71-O of March 10, 2005 Pursuant to the Request of the Samara Province Court on the Constitutionality of Provisions of Item 5 of Article 8 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 Federal Law on the general principles of organisation of legislative (representative) and executive bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation is a general law specifying the procedure of entry into force of the laws and other normative acts of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The regulation contained in it stating that normative acts pertaining to protection of rights and freedoms of man and citizen may enter into force no sooner than ten days after their official publication (Item 5 of Article 8) does not prevent the subject of the Russian Federation from defining independently the procedure of entry into force of their own laws.

Determination of the fact of the presence (or absence) in the law or another normative act adopted by the subject of the Russian Federation of provisions pertaining to issues of protection of rights and freedoms of man and citizen forms the sphere of reference of appropriate courts.

The Ruling states that Item 5 of Article 8 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 must be applied in accordance with its constitutional and legal meaning specified by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation in the Ruling.

The Ruling must be published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta and the Herald of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 299 of May 13, 2005 on the Amendments to the Norms of Expenses of Organisations to Pay out Daily Allowance Per Day in a Business Trip Abroad Permitting to Qualify Such Expenses As Other Expenses Pertaining to Production and Sale in the Determination of the Taxable Base for the Profit Tax from Organisations Envisaged in the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 93 of February 8, 2002

Endorses a new wording of the norms of expenses of organisations to pay out daily allowance per day of business trip abroad permitting to qualify such expenses as other expenses pertaining to production and sale in the determination of the taxable base for the profit tax from organisations envisaged in the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 93 of February 8, 2002.

The Decision is entered into force from January 1, 2006.

Decision of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation No. 46 of April 27, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Average Values of the Main Figures to Calculate Discounts and Mark-Ups to Insurance Tariff Rates for Obligatory Social Insurance Against Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases in 2005

Endorses average values of the main figures by the types of economic activities coordinated with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation to calculate discounts and mark-ups to insurance tariff rates for obligatory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases in 2005.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 07-05-06/32 of February 1, 2005 on the Procedure of Determination of Expenses of the Organisation in the Determination of the Taxable Base for the Profit Tax

For profit taxation purposes, expenses in the form of the daily allowance to the employee on a business trip are recognised in roubles at the rate endorsed by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation as of the date of endorsement of the advance payments report within the limits of the norms endorsed by the Government of the Russian Federation. The rate of exchange of the foreign currency in the exchange office is not taken into account for profit taxation purposes.

Letter of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 07-05-06/28 of January 28, 2005 on the Determination of the Taxable Base for the Profit Tax

Explains that the debts of the organisation undergoing bankruptcy proceedings included in the creditor claims register may not be recognised as desperate for profit taxation purposes because of the expiry of the period of limitation and are not registered in expenses when building the taxable base for the profit tax before the end of the bankruptcy proceedings.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 302 of May 16, 2005 on the Procedure for Making Payments and Transfers between Residents and Non-Residents When the Residents Grant Commercial Credits to Non-Residents for More Than 180 Calendar Days in the Form of a Preliminary Payment Pertaining to Foreign Trade Activities

Specifies that when payments and transfers are made between residents and non-residents in cases of commercial credits granted by residents to non-residents for more than 180 calendar days in the form of a preliminary payment pertaining to foreign trade activities, the resident must reserve until the day when the non-resident fulfils his obligations, however, not more than for 15 calendar days, an amount equivalent to 10% of the amount of the preliminary payment defined as of the day of reservation less the amount of consideration received by the resident from the non-resident.

The reserved amount must be transferred by the resident when 180 days expire from the day of transfer by the resident of monetary resources to the non-resident in the form of a preliminary payment pertaining to foreign trade activities.

The reservation and the return of the amount of reservation shall be effected according to the procedure defined by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.

The Decision does not apply to capital flow currency operations carried out between resident credit organisations and non-residents.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 301 of May 16, 2005 on the Exemption from Customs Fees for the Customs Registration of Cultural Values Moved across the Customs Border of the Russian Federation for Exhibition

Specifies that the customs fees for the customs registration are not collected in cases of re-import or re-export of cultural values moved across the customs border of the Russian Federation by state or municipal museums, archives, libraries and other state depositaries of cultural values for exposition.

The Decision applies to legal relations emerging from January 1, 2005.

Letter of the Federal Tax Service No. ShS-6-14/316 of April 15, 2005 on the Sending of the Letter

The Federal Tax Service informs that the Central Advisory Service of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation, its branches, other divisions may not provide tax advice to legal entities and natural persons.

Expert statements provided by the Central Advisory Service of the Ministry of Taxation of the Russian Federation, its branches, other divisions on taxation issues may not express the official position of the tax bodies of the Russian Federation and do not have legal power.

Budget of the Union State for the Year 2005 (Adopted by the Decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia No. XXVII-10 of April 21, 2005. Endorsed by the Decree of the Supreme State Council of the Union State No. 1 of April 22, 2005)

Endorses the incomes of the budget of the Union State for the year 2005 and the sources of its generation.

Endorses expenses of the budget of the Union State for the year 2005 and their distribution by sections, subsections, tied items and types of expenses of the functional classification of expenses of the budget of the Union State, agency structure of expenses, as well as the list of programs, subprograms, projects and measures of the Union State selected for financing from the budget of the Union State for the year 2005.

Specifies that the transfer of contributions by the member-states to the budget of the Union State in 2005 shall be implemented in compliance with the legislation of the member-states, normative legal acts of the Union State and the present budget.

Defines that the Republic of Belarus will continue to redeem in 2006 the debts in contributions to the budget of the Union State having accrued in the years 2000-2003.

Forms the Reserve Fund of the Union State for the year 2005.

The budget shall enter into force from the day of its endorsement by the Supreme State Council and must be published in mass media of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus within one month.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 303 of May 16, 2005 on the Delimitation of Authority of the Federal Bodies of Executive Power in the Sphere of Bacteriological and Chemical Safety of the Russian Federation

Specifies the authority of the federal bodies of executive power in the sphere of bacteriological and chemical safety of the Russian Federation.

Defines that financing of activities of the federal bodies of executive power in the sphere of bacteriological and chemical safety of the Russian Federation will be done at the expense of resources of the federal budget.

Letter of the Department of the Tax and Customs Tariff Policy of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation No. 03-01-20/2-56 of April 14, 2005 on the Use of Cash Register When They Are Excluded from the State Register

If the earlier used models of cash registers are excluded from the State Register, they may be used until expiry of the period of amortisation.

If the amortisation is not envisaged for the cash registers, and the model is excluded from the State Register, further use of it is not permitted.

Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation No. 5-P of May 11, 2005 on the Case of Constitutionality of Article 405 of the Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation Pursuant to the Request of the Kurgan Province Court, Appeals of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Russian Federation, Production Technical Cooperative "Sodeystviye", Limited-Liability Company "Karelia" and a Number of Citizens

The Constitutional Court has decided that Article 405 of the Code of Criminal Procedures of the Russian Federation is not in compliance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, since in the system of available procedural regulation of revision of court sentences, rulings and decisions having entered into force, while not permitting an impairment in the course of the revision of the court decision as an enforcement procedure pursuant to the appeal of the victim (his representative) or prosecutor representation, it does not permit to eliminate significant violations available in the previous examination having caused a wrong case resolution.

Before appropriate amendments are introduced in the legislation on criminal procedures, the revision as an enforcement procedure pursuant to the appeal of the victim, his representative or presentation of the prosecutor of the convicting sentence, as well as a court ruling and decision requiring a heavier sentence in cases of a milder sentence or for other reasons envisaging an impairment of the convict's status, as well as an acquitting sentence or court ruling or decision terminating the case, shall be permitted within one year before they enter into force.

Federal Law No. 50-FZ of May 18, 2005 on the Amendments to Article 333.3 of Part 2 of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation

Adopted by the State Duma on April 13, 2005.

Approved by the Council of the Federation on May 11, 2005.

Amends Chapter 25.1 "Fees for the Use of Objects of Fauna and for the Use of Objects of Water Biological Resources".

Reduces the rate of the fee for the queen crab, red and angulatus, from Rbl 30,000 to Rbl 13,000 a piece.

The rates of the fee for each object of water biological resources, except for aquatic mammals, are extended to include the rate for the Greenland seal up to one year of age.

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 309 of May 18, 2005 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 817 of November 11, 2002

The expert commission for examination of the materials submitted to get the licence for production of printed items protected against forgery, including the blank securities, as well as for the sale of the mentioned items, shall include representatives of the Federal Tax Service and the Federal Service of Technical and Export Control.

The licensing of production of protected printed items, as well as of sale of the mentioned items, shall be vested in the Federal Tax Service.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 308 of May 18, 2005 on the Governmental Commission for Countermeasures against Violations in the Sphere of Intellectual Property

The Governmental Commission for Countermeasures against Violations in the Sphere of Intellectual Property shall be renamed into the Governmental Commission for Countermeasures against Violations in the Sphere of Intellectual Property, Its Legal Protection and Use.

One of the main tasks of the Commission is the working out of measures to stimulate introduction in production of science-intensive technologies and assisting exchange of results of intellectual activities between the military and the civil spheres.

The Commission shall define priority directions of activities in the sphere of legal protection and use of intellectual property, define measures of regulation of transfer abroad of the results of intellectual activities created at the expense of resources of the federal budget, examine proposals to regulate the procedure of registration of the results of intellectual property and control in the sphere of use of results of intellectual activities obtained at the expense of resources of the federal budget.

The Commission shall be entitled to arrange, if necessary, expert evaluation of programs and projects in issues of legal protection and use of intellectual property.

The organisational, technical and information support of activities of the Commission shall be vested in the Office of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 307 of May 18, 2005 on the Interim Rate of the Import Customs Duty for Mercury Lamps

Endorses for nine months from the day of entry into force of the Decision the rate of the import customs duty in the amount equal to 15% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.35 a piece, for mercury lamps (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 8539 32 100 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. 306 of May 18, 2005 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Fine Fabric of Fibreglass

Heading 7019 "Fibreglass (Including Webs) and Items of It (for Example, Yarn, Fabric)" of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation shall not include now subheading "Fine Fabric (Veiling)" (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 7019 32 000 0).

The Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation shall include now subheading "Fabric (Veiling)" (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 7019 32 000) subdivided into two subheadings (with the width greater than 300 mm and other) (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 7019 32 000 1 and 7019 32 000 9 respectively).

Endorses the rates of the import customs duties for the mentioned items for 9 months.

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 305 of May 18, 2005 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Some Types of Glasses

Heading 9004 "Protective Glasses and Similar Optical Instruments, Correcting, Protective or Other" of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation shall not include now subheading "Other" (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 9004 90 900 0).

The Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation shall include now subheading "Other" (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 9004 90 900) subdivided into two subheadings depending on the border price of the country of import (codes according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature 9004 90 900 1 and 9004 90 900 9).

Endorses the rates of the import customs duties for the mentioned items for 9 months.

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 304 of May 18, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rate of the Export Customs Duty for Raw Oil and Raw Oil Products from Bituminous Materials Exported from the Territory of the Russian Federation outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

Endorses the rate of the export customs duty for raw oil and raw oil products from bituminous materials (code according to the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of Russia 2709 00) exported from the territory of the Russian Federation outside the member-states of the Customs Union agreements in the amount of USD 136.2 per 1,000 kg.

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

Federal Law No. 51-FZ of May 18, 2005 on the Elections of the Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

According to the new procedure of forming of the State Duma, the deputies will be elected in a federal election district in proportion to the number of votes of the electorate having favoured the federal lists of candidates. The federal lists of candidates shall be proposed only by political parities permitted to participate in the elections. During the election of the deputies of the State Duma, creation of election blocks is not envisaged.

The federal list of candidates may include not more than 500 candidates. The federal list of candidates may contain the general federal part consisting of not more than 3 candidates and shall be divided into the regional groups of candidates on the obligatory basis numbering at least 100. The regional part of the federal list of candidates must include all subjects of the Russian Federation.

The law defines the procedure of collection of signatures, checking of the lists of signatures, registration of the federal lists of candidates, as well as the requirements to the election deposit.

Procedure of information support of the election of the deputies of the State Duma, including the election campaigns of political parties, did not change significantly as compared to the previous one.

The financing of the measures pertaining to preparation and carrying out of the elections shall be implemented at the expense of resources of the federal budget. Political parties having put forward the federal lists of candidates must create election funds to finance their election campaign. The limiting amount of all expenses from the resources of the election fund of a political party may not be greater than Rbl 400 million. Besides, election funds may be created by the regional divisions of political parties. Resources of election funds of the regional divisions of political parties shall be spent mainly for election campaigns.

As a result of election of the deputies of the State Duma, deputy mandates shall be distributed among federal lists of candidates each of which has received at least 7% and more of the votes on condition that there were at lest two of such lists having collected in total more than 60% of the votes of the electorate having participated in the vote. The Law also envisages the cases when deputy mandates may be distributed among the federal lists of candidates having failed to overcome the 7% barrier. If none of the federal lists has received 7% and more of the votes, or all federal lists of candidates have received in total 60% and less of the votes, the election of the deputies of the State Duma are considered to have failed. A new method of proportional distribution of the deputy mandates is adopted.

The Federal Law is entered into force on December 7, 2006.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 312 of May 20, 2005 on the Amendment to the Regulation on the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation

Specifies that the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia shall adopt normative acts defining the procedure of adoption of decisions to submit application to the court of arbitration to recognise as bankrupt a debtor included in the list of strategic enterprises and organisations.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 311 of May 19, 2005 on the Amendments to the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 410 of August 12, 2004

Amends the procedure of interaction of the bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation and the bodies of local government with the territorial bodies of the federal body of executive power in charge of control and enforcement in the sphere of taxes and fees.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 310 of May 18, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Rendering of Services of the Local, Regional, Intercity and International Telephone Communication

From July 1, 2005, introduces the new rules regulating relations between the user of the services of telephone communication and the communication operator in cases of rendering of the local, regional, intercity and international telephone communication in a public-use communication network.

Communication operator must provide free of charge on the round-the-clock basis opportunities of calling the fire service, emergency service, militia, ambulance, emergency gas supply service and the antiterrorist service.

Operator rendering services of the local telephone communication must also provide free of charge on the round-the-clock basis the following information and reference services: information of the telephone number of the user of the local telephone network, tariff rates for the services of the local telephone communication, balance of the user personal account, local time, repair service and some other.

Operator rendering services of the regional telephone communication must provide free of charge on the round-the-clock basis the following information and reference services: code of the residential settlement, tariff rates for the services of the regional telephone communication, balance of the user personal account, numbers of the operator services to order a zone telephone connection via a switchboard operator and other services.

Operator rendering services of the intercity and international telephone communication must provide free of charge information on the code of the residential settlement, code of the country and foreign residential settlement, tariff rates for the services of intercity and international telephone communication, balance of the user personal account, difference in time with the residential settlement being called, numbers of operator services to order intercity and international calls via a switchboard operator and other services.

The minimum length of the paid telephone connection made via a switchboard operator may not be greater than 3 minutes, with the telephone connection of lower duration being paid as a minimum-length connection.

The payment for the services of the local telephone communication may be arranged using a user fee or time-based payment. If the tariff rates for the operator services are subject to state regulation, communication operator must provide to citizens at their demand opportunities of payment by instalments for at least 6 months, with initial contribution being not more than 30% of the fixed payment.

Depending on the urgency of provided zone, intercity or international telephone communication via a switchboard operator, the following types of tariff rates may apply: ordinary and urgent. The urgent tariff rate is determined by applying a multiplying coefficient to the ordinary rate specified by the communication operator, which may be greater than 2.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 314 of May 21, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Import Customs Duties for Bovine Meet

The rates of the import customs duties for other bovine meet, fresh or chilled and frozen, are reduced to 40% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.53 per kg (earlier, 60% of the customs cost, however, not less than EUR 0.8 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. 313 of May 20, 2005 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Leasing of the Plots of the Forestry Fund

The amendments prolong the maximum period (from 49 to 99 years) permitting to grant a plot of the forestry fund under a lease contract to a forest user at cost. Specifies that the plots of the forestry fund may be leased only as a result of the forestry contests (earlier, also pursuant to the decisions of the bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation adopted against presentations of the territorial bodies of the federal forestry management body).

Letter of the Central Bank of Russia No. 12-4-7/1119 of May 6, 2005 on the Procedure of Application of the Acts of the Bank of Russia

Explains the procedure of application of Letters of the Central Bank of Russia No. 12-T of January 21, 2005 "Methodology Recommendations on Enhancing Control over Operations of Purchase of Securities for Cash by Natural Persons and Purchase and Sale of Foreign Currencies in Cash" and No. 17-T of January 26, 2005 on enhancing control over operations with monetary resources in cash. Emphasises that provisions contained in the given acts are recommendations to reveal suspicious operations in client activities. The right to adopt the final decision qualifying this or that operation with monetary resources or another property as suspicious rests exclusively with the credit organisation. However, authorised representatives of the Central Bank of Russia checking the credit organisation may have a motivated professional judgement and qualify compliance of its activities in the combating of legalisation (laundering) of incomes obtained in a criminal way and financing of terrorism with the mentioned recommendations of the Bank of Russia.

Explains the term "significant volumes" used in Letter No. 17-T. Quantity characteristics in each particular case must be determined by the credit organisation independently taking into account the particulars of its activities, particulars of its client activities, as well as the degree (level) of risk of operations carried out by clients.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 319 of May 3, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Types of Apothecary Institutions

Endorses the following types of apothecary institutions: apothecary, apothecary centre, apothecary stand and apothecary shop. Apothecaries are subdivided into the ones of ready-made forms, pharmacy ones, pharmacy ones permitted to make aseptic preparations, hospital ones, inter-hospital ones, homeopathic, central, regional, city and those of the public health institution. Apothecary centres may or may not be permitted to make medicines.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 20, 2005. Reg. No. 6608.

Letter of the Federal Migration Service No. MS-2/10-5393 of May 4, 2005

Informs that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia together with the Bank of Russia are working out a procedure of granting information to the Bank of Russia and credit organisations to provide for operative checks of passports presented by clients in the database of lost and stolen passports (blank passports).

Letter of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring No. 07-2-27/3447 of April 22, 2005

Lists information that must be presented by credit organisations to the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring to its written requests. The mentioned requests must contain a reference to the grounds with the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring permitting to get the requested information. If the particular type of grounds is not indicated, credit organisations must not execute the request of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring. Confidential information is not disclosed to the requests (for example, particular source of information on the terrorist links or suspicious operations, the party in an international contract etc.).

Budget Message of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of May 24, 2005 on the Budget Policy in 2006

Contains main directions and guidelines of the budget policy for the year 2006. The most important task of the budget policy is still macroeconomy stability.

Emphasises that accounting and reporting for the purposes of taxation remain unjustifiably complicated, which is especially harmful for the medium and small business. Therefore, the finishing of the tax reform will require a special attention in 2005-2006. First and foremost, the barriers and norms will be removed violating neutrality of the value added tax and causing an unjustifiable withdrawal of resources from circulation with enterprises. In particular, the Parliament in the nearest future will have to switch over from 2006 to the common procedure of exemption from the value added tax in capital construction.

In profit taxation of organisations, expenses must include the costs of scientific research and design works, organisations must be able to include in expenses capital investments in the amount of 10% of the cost of purchased fixed assets, as well as carry over losses of the past years to the future periods.

The Tax Code must include the chapter on the local tax on immovable property. The taxpayers must get opportunity to draw up a respite or extension schedule for tax payments for up to one year directly in the tax body.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 322 of May 23, 2005 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Deployment and Use on the Territory of the Russian Federation, on the Continental Shelf and in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Russian Federation of Foreign Technical Means of Monitoring and Control

Pursuant to the reorganisation of the State Technical Commission of the President of the Russian Federation into the Federal Service of Technical and Export Control, amends the Regulation on the deployment and use on the territory of the Russian Federation, on the continental shelf and in the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation of foreign technical means of monitoring and control.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 321 of May 23, 2005 on the Amendments to the Customs Tariff of the Russian Federation Pertaining to Aluminium Chloride

Heading 2827 "Chlorides, Chloride Oxides and Chloride Hydroxides; Bromides and Bromide Oxides; Iodides and Iodide Oxides" of the Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation now does not include subheading "--of aluminium" (code 2827 32 000 0).

The Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature of the Russian Federation now includes subheading "--of aluminium" (code 2827 32 000) subdivided into two subheadings (---anhydrous, with the content of main substance of at least 98% by weight and ---other) (codes 2827 32 000 1 and 2827 32 000 9 respectively).

Endorses the rates of the import customs duties for the mentioned items.

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 320 of May 23, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Financial Support of the State Authority to Draw up the Lists of Jury Candidates of the Federal Courts of General Jurisdiction in the Russian Federation Handed over to Executive Regulatory Bodies of Municipal Formations

Defines the procedure of granting subventions from the Federal Fund of Compensations to the local budgets to provide financial support of the state authority to draw up (change, extend) the lists of jury candidates of the federal courts of general jurisdiction in the Russian Federation handed over to executive regulatory bodies of municipal formations and the amounts of subventions.

Subventions to implement the state authority to draw up the lists of jury candidates of the federal courts of general jurisdiction in the Russian Federation shall be granted once in four years beginning with the year 2008. Subventions to implement the state authority to change or extend the lists of candidates on the annual basis shall be granted on the annual basis beginning with the year 2006 except for the year of the drawing up of the lists of candidates.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 317 of May 20, 2005 on the Vesting of Certain Functions in the Sphere of Fishery and Conservation of Water Biological Resources in the Federal Bodies of Executive Power

Lists the functions in the sphere of fishery and conservation of water biological resources vested in the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia and the Federal Agency of Fishery.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 316 of May 20, 2005 on the Organisation of Catching of Pacific Salmon

Specifies the procedure and time limits of determination and endorsement of the total permissible catch of the Pacific salmon, as well as the procedure of its distribution by the types of quotas of the catch. Also endorses the rules of distribution of the costal quotas of the catch of Pacific salmon in internal waters of the Russian Federation among the costal subjects of the Russian Federation and the rules of distribution of scientific quotas for the purposes of fish breeding, reproduction and acclimatisation of the Pacific salmon, quotas of the catch of the Pacific salmon for educational and cultural and enlightenment purposes among users.

Order of the Federal Service of Technical and Export Control No. 151 of April 26, 2005 on the Organisation of Issue of Statements in the Federal Service of Technical and Export Control of Application of Measures of Non-Tariff Regulation in Foreign Trade Activities

Specifies the procedure of issue of statements of application of measures of non-tariff regulation by the Federal Service of Technical and Export Control of Russia in foreign trade activities pertaining to commodities, information, works, services, results of intellectual activities that may be used in creation of mass destruction weapons, means of its delivery, other types of armaments and military equipment. The statements shall be issued by the Federal Service of Technical and Export Control of Russia to written requests of foreign trade participants with attached documents listed in the Order. Requests of the foreign trade participants received through the customs bodies shall be processed according to priority procedure.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 24, 2005. Reg. No. 6625.

Regulation of the Central Bank of Russia No. 268-P of April 19, 2005 on the Procedure and Criteria of Assessment of the Financial Standing of Natural Person Founders (Participants) of the Credit Organisation

Specifies the procedure and criteria of assessment of the financial standing of the natural person purchaser being or becoming personally or in a group of persons tied by an agreement the founder (participant) of the credit organisation as a result of purchase of stocks (shares) of the credit organisation.

Incomes used by the purchaser to pay for the stocks (shares) of the credit organisation are recognised to be resources (property) obtained by him from sources in the Russian Federation and abroad listed in Articles 208 and 217 of the Tax Code, as well as resources (property) obtained by the purchaser on other legal grounds with a documentary confirmation. The Regulation lists the documents submitted for confirmation of the sources of origin of own resources (property) of the purchaser transferred in payment for the stocks (shares) of the credit organisation, their sufficiency and to assess the satisfactory financial standing of the purchaser.

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 May 24, 2005. Reg. No. 6624.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 05-11/p3-n of April 20, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Reports of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation on Generation and Investing of Resources of Accumulated Pensions

Specifies the forms, time limits and procedure of filling and submission by the Pension Fund of reports on generation and investing of resources of accumulated pensions to the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia.

The Order is entered into force beginning with the reports of the Pension Fund on generation and investing of resources of accumulated pensions for 6 months of 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 20, 2005. Reg. No. 6611.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 275 of April 15, 2005 on the Forms of Documents Necessary for Investigation of Industrial Accidents

Endorses two registration forms: No. 315/u "Medical Statement on the Nature of the Damage to Health As a Result of Industrial Accident and Its Degree", No. 316/u "Certificate of the Final Diagnosis of the Victim of Industrial Accident" and their filling recommendations.

Registration Form 315/u is handed out to the request of the organisation, independent entrepreneur by the medical organisation where the victim of the industrial accident applied for medial aid for the first time, immediately after receiving the request. Registration form 316/u is filled out and handed out to the victim by the medical organisation after the end of the treatment.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 20, 2005. Reg. No. 6609.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 312 of April 29, 2005 on the Minimum Range of Medicines

Defines the minimum range of medicines necessary for the rendering of medical aid to be provided for by apothecary institutions.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 20, 2005. Reg. No. 6606.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAE-3-19/127 of March 30, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Organisation of Work to Grant Respites, Extension Schedules, Tax Credit, Investment Tax Credit to Pay Taxes and Fees, As Well As Penalties

Decisions granting respites (extension schedules), tax credits and investment tax credits to pay federal taxes and fees, as well as penalties, and suspending the payment of the federal taxes and fees, as well as penalties, for the period of examination of the application for the respite (extension schedule) shall be taken by the Federal Tax Service. Decisions on the payment of the regional and local taxes shall be taken by the departments of the Federal Tax Service of Russia in the subjects of the Russian Federation at the place of location (residence) of the person concerned.

The person concerned must present a guarantee of payment obliging the guarantor to execute the duty of the taxpayer to pay the taxes to the tax bodies in full amount if the latter cannot pay the due amount and appropriate penalties within specified time limits.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 20, 2005. Reg. No. 6604.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 05-12/pz-n of April 20, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Reports of the Specialised Depositary of Operations with Resources of Accumulated Pensions

Specifies the forms, time limits and procedure of filling and submission of the reports by the specialised depositary having concluded the contract for the services to the Pension Fund and the contract for the services of the specialised depositary to the Pension Fund for the resources of accumulated pensions of the insured having failed to choose the investment portfolio (management company) or a non-state pension fund. The reports shall be submitted to the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia and the Pension Fund.

The Order shall enter into force beginning with the report of operations with the resources of accumulated pensions for May 2005 submitted by the specialised depositary.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 20, 2005. Reg. No. 6603.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 05-9/pz-n of April 13, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Determination of the Market Cost of Assets and the Cost of Net Assets Used to Invest Resources of Accumulated Pensions Generated in Non-State Pension Funds

Defines the rules of estimation of the market cost of assets and the cost of net assets available in trust control of the management company.

The market value of assets comprising the investment portfolio of the management company built at the expense of accumulated pensions is determined proceeding from the amount of monetary resources on the accounts and deposits in credit organisations, market cost of securities comprising the appropriate investment portfolio and the amount of receivables. The market value of securities is determined proceeding form the amount of securities in the investment portfolio of the management company and the market price of a single valuable paper.

The Order shall enter into force from July 1, 2005.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 20, 2005. Reg. No. 6602.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 310 of December 9, 2004 on the Endorsement of the Card of Preventive Medical Examination of the Child

To define the procedure of preventive medical examination of children and get uniform information of the results of preventive examination, endorses registration Form No. 030-D/u "Card of Preventive Medical Examination of the Child", its filling Instruction and the Instruction on the procedure of automatic data transfer of the mentioned registration form.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 20, 2005. Reg. No. 6601.

Order of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being No. 390 of April 29, 2005 on the Qualification Requirements to Professional Knowledge and Skills of Civil Servants of the Territorial Departments of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being

Lists positions of the territorial departments of the Federal Service of Enforcement in the Sphere of Protection of Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being and the level of education required for the mentioned persons to execute their official duties.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 16, 2005. Reg. No. 6589.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 325 of May 18, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rates of Export Customs Duties for Commodities of Oil Exported from the Territory of the Russian Federation Outside the Member-States of the Customs Union Agreements

The rates of the export customs duties for benzene, toluene, xylene, propane, butanes, ethylene, propylene, butylene and butadiene and other liquefied gases, as well as light distillates, gasoils and liquid fuels, are increased from USD 81.4 to USD 104.1 per ton. Export customs duties for lubricants, spent oil products, petrolatum, paraffin, oil coke and bitumen are reduced from USD 81.4 to USD 56 per ton.

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

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 315 of May 21, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Typical Contract of Social Leasing for the Dwelling Space

According to the contract, the lessor shall hand over to the lessee and members of his family for unlimited possession and use separate dwelling space for living, as well as provide communal services at cost. Description of the handed over dwelling space, its technical condition, as well as the sanitary and other equipment available in it, are indicated in the technical certificate of the dwelling space.

The Decision lists the rights and duties of the parties. Thus, the lessee, in particular, shall be obliged to accept the dwelling space fit for living from the lessor within 10 days from the day of signing of the contract. The lessee must also carry out current repair works at his own expense in the occupied dwelling space. The current repair works include covering the walls with wallpaper, painting the ceiling, doors, floors, window-sills, window frames inside, heaters, as well as the replacement of the door and window fittings, repair of internal engineering equipment (electric lines, cold and hot water pipes, heat and gas pipes).

If the payment for the dwelling space and/or communal services is not transferred within specified time limits, the lessee must pay the penalties, which does not exempt him form due payments. Capital repair of the dwelling space rests with the lessor.

The earlier concluded contracts of social leasing for the dwelling space must not be redrawn.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 05-16/pz-n of April 20, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Carrying out Checks of Organisations Where Control and Enforcement Is Vested in the Federal Service for Financial Markets

Defines the procedure of preparation and carrying out of the checks of issuers, joint-stock investment funds, subjects of relations of generation and investing of resources of pension savings, subjects of relations in non-state pension support, obligatory pension insurance and professional pension insurance, mortgage agents, mortgage coverage managers and specialised mortgage coverage depositaries, professional participants of the securities market, management companies of joint-stock and shared investment funds and non-state pension funds, specialised depositaries of investment funds, shared investment funds, non-state pension funds and other organisation licensed by the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia, as well as their self-regulating organisations where control and enforcement is vested in the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia. Also defines the rights and duties of inspectors of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia, its regional divisions.

The checks may be on-site ones and cameral ones. On-site checks may be scheduled and extraordinary, as well as the joint ones. A scheduled on-site check is implied to be the check of the work of the organisation arranged by a group of inspectors at the place of location and/or activities of the organisation included in the schedule of on-site checks. An extraordinary on-site check is arranged by a groups of inspectors at the place of location and/or activities of the organisation and is assigned to check execution of orders to eliminate revealed violations, execution of the requirements of the legislation pertaining to protection of rights and legal interests of investors at the securities market and in other cases. A joint on-site check envisages inclusion in the group of inspectors in coordination with the federal bodies of executive power of employees designated by them. A cameral check is arranged by the inspector (inspectors) by investigating the documents and information presented by the organisation an d other entities or state bodies.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 25, 2005. Reg. No. 6640.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 05-15/pz-n of April 20, 2005 on the Delimitation of Authority in the Sphere of State Registration of Issues (Additional Issues) of Emission Securities between the Federal Service for Financial Markets and Its Territorial Bodies

The Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia shall carry out the state registration of issues (additional issues) of emission securities included in the list of issuers for whom the body in charge of the registration is the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia, issuer options, emission securities of issuers being management companies, those placed through open subscription, closed subscription (on condition that the total volume of each of the issuers at nominal value is greater than Rbl 40 million), emission securities of issuers with the amount of the registered capital being Rbl 500 million or greater, securities placed in cases of reorganisation of joint-stock companies, foreign issuers including international financial organisations, bonds of the Bank of Russia, bonds of the state and municipal unitary enterprises.

Territorial bodies of the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia shall carry out the state registration of issues (additional issues) of all other emission securities.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 25, 2005. Reg. No. 6639.

Order of the Federal Tax Service No. SAE-3-09/178@ of April 26, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Form No. 9-KNU "Notification of the Registration in the Tax Body of the Legal Entity As a Major Taxpayer"

Endorses a new wording of the form of the notification of the registration in the tax body of the legal entity as a major taxpayer (Form No. 9-KNU).

The earlier form endorsed by the Order of the Ministry of Taxation of Russia No. BG-3-09/319 of August 31, 2001 shall not apply.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 25, 2005. Reg. No. 6638.

Direction of the Central Bank of Russia No. 1575-U of May 4, 2005 on the Invalidation of the Normative Acts of the Bank of Russia

A number of normative acts of the Bank of Russia are invalidated from June 19, 2005 pursuant to the entry into force of Article 12 of the Federal Law on currency regulation and currency control. The given Article describes the opening of accounts of residents in the banks abroad the Russian Federation. Invalidates Regulations of the Bank of Russia No. 200-P, No. 201-P of October 16, 2002 with amendments.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 25, 2005. Reg. No. 6637.

Order of the Federal Service for Financial Markets No. 05-14/pz-n of April 20, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Procedure of Registration of the Documents of Professional Participants of the Securities Market Engaged in Clearing Activities and Activities in Organisation of Trade at the Securities Market

Defines the procedure of registration in the Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia of the documents, as well as amendments to them, presented by professional participants of the securities market engaged in clearing activities and activities of organisation of trade at the securities market, including the stock exchanges. The Federal Service for Financial Markets of Russia must register the due document or take a motivated decision to refuse its registration no later than within 30 days from the date of receiving of the appropriate document. The Order lists the reasons of refusal of registration.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 25, 2005. Reg. No. 6636.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 326 of May 6, 2005 on the Cost of One Day of Stay in Sanatorium and Resort Institutions for the Citizens Entitled for the State Social Aid in the Form of a Set of Social Services

The cost of one day of stay in sanatorium and resort institutions for the citizens entitled for the state social aid in the form of a set of social services, as well as the persons accompanying citizens with grade III labour restrictions and invalid children, makes Rbl 400, and from May 1, 2005 - Rbl 500. The cost of one day of stay in sanatorium and resort institutions for war invalids, participants of the Great Patriotic War, servicemen having undergone military service for at least six months from June 22, 1941 to September 3, 1945, servicemen awarded with orders and medals of the USSR for the service in the mentioned period, persons awarded with the badge of the "Resident of Blockaded Leningrad" and some other categories makes Rbl 550, and for the invalids with diseases and injuries of the spinal cord - Rbl 600.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 23, 2005. Reg. No. 6620.

Order of the Central Bank of Russia No. OD-316 of May 16, 2005 on the Amendments to the Order of the Bank of Russia No. OD-682 of September 22, 2004 on the Estimate of the Cost of Backing under Credits of the Bank of Russia

Specifies that in the absence of transactions at the exchange during the trade day preceding the day of calculation of the market cost of the bonds of the foreign bond loans of the Russian Federation, the market cost of the mentioned securities shall be calculated proceeding from the information of the closing of the appropriate security published by the information system Bloomberg generic Mid/last for the day preceding the day of calculation of the market value. Earlier, information published by Reuters CLS was used.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 333 of May 26, 2005 on the Procedure for Granting the State Guarantee of the Russian Federation for Insurance Obligations Pertaining to Military Risks, Risks of Skyjacking and Other Similar Risks of Air Carrier Liabilities to Third Parties

Specifies the procedure of granting of the state guarantee of the Russian Federation for insurance obligations pertaining to military risks, skyjacking risks and other similar risks of air carrier liabilities to third parties as defined in extended coverage endorsement (aviation liabilities) AVN 52E 12.12.01 of the Lloyd's aviation insurer association.

The guarantee is provided on the contest basis. The annual open contest to choose the insurance company shall be arranged by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation. The guarantee shall secure insurer liability to redeem the damage during its period of validity in the amount greater than USD 150 million, however, not greater than the amount envisaged for this purpose in the federal budget for the appropriate year.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 330 of May 26, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rates of the Import Customs Duties of Individual Types of Technological Equipment

Specifies the rates of the import customs duties for individual types of technological equipment - in the amount of 5% of the customs cost, and for other technological equipment - in the amount 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. 328 of may 25, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Rendering of Services of Mobile Communication

The endorsed rules shall regulate relations between the user of the services of mobile communication and the communication operator rendering the services of mobile radio communication, services of mobile radio telephone communication and/or services of mobile satellite radio communication in a public-use communication network. The rules introduce the duty of the communication operator to provide for the confidentiality of the telephone traffic transmitted over mobile communication networks.

The list of the paid reference information services provided by the operator shall be defined by the operator independently. The services provided free of charge shall include connection to emergency operative services, as well as information on tariff rates, covered zone, balance of user personal account and the debts in payments for the services of mobile communication. Besides, the operator must provide for a free reception of information from the user on technical defects preventing the use of the services of mobile communication.

Significant terms of the concluded contract shall include the user number or unique identification code, rendered services of mobile communication, procedure, time limits and forms of payments, as well as the system of payment for the services of mobile communication.

If new tariff rates for the services of mobile communication are introduced, the operator must inform the users of it at least 10 days in advance through mass media. The metering unit for connection over the mobile communication network is specified by the operator, but may not be greater than one minute. The length of connection over the network of mobile communication used to determinate the payment is calculated from the first second of response of the user being called or equipment, the response signal being taken for the user response, to the moment of disconnection of the user calling or being called or such equipment. Connections shorter than 3 seconds shall not be taken into account in the volume of the rendered services of mobile communication. Tariff rates for the services of mobile communication, including the one for the incomplete metering unit, is specified by the operator independently.

Responsibility of the parties for the failure to execute or improper execution of the duties under the contract is envisaged.

The rules are entered into force from July 1, 2005.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 326 of May 25, 2005 on the Procedure of Indexing of the Amounts of Some Monthly Monetary Compensations and Other Payments in the Period from June 19, 2002 to May 31, 2004 to Citizens Having Been Exposed to Radiation Because of the Disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, Members of Their Families and Return in 2005-2006 of Underpaid Amounts

Provides indexing factors for the monthly monetary compensations and monthly monetary amounts paid out in compliance with individual norms of the Law of the Russian Federation on the social protection of citizens having been exposed to radiation because of the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in the period from June 19, 2002 to May 31, 2004.

Amounts to be returned to citizens as a result of indexing shall be calculated as a difference between the amount of indexed compensation (indexed amount) and the amount of the monthly monetary compensation (monthly monetary amount) assigned (paid out) for the appropriate period.

The paying out of underpaid amounts of the monthly monetary compensations and the monthly monetary amount shall be arranged: for the years 2002-2003 - until December 1, 2005; for the year 2004 - until December 1, 2006.

Order of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation No. 289 of April 21, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Regulation on the Interagency Expert Council to Establish Causative Connection of Diseases, Disability and Death of Citizens Having Been Exposed to Radiation Factors

The Interagency Expert Council in charge of establishing causative connection of diseases, disability and death of citizens having been exposed to radiation factors is created by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development on the basis of the specialised multipurpose medical institution. The main task of the Interagency Expert Council is establishing causative connection of diseases, disability and death of citizens with exposure to radiation factors.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 25, 2005. Reg. No. 6634.

Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation No. 63 of April 20, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Directions of Use of Investment Credits and the List of the Documents Confirming the Use of Investment Credits for Designated Purposes

Lists the goals of use of credits and the documents confirming the use of such credits for designated purposes received by agricultural producers, organisations of the agroindustrial complex and peasant (farmers') enterprises in the Russian banks in 2002-2005 for up to 3 years where a partial compensation of the interest is envisaged from the federal budget.

Registered in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on May 25, 2005. Reg. No. 6631.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 336 of May 27, 2005 on the Amendments to the Regulation on the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the Regulation on the Federal Tax Service

Specifies that decrees of the President of the Russian Federation may introduce exceptions from the rule stating that the Minister of Finance assigns to their positions and dismisses from them deputy heads of the federal services and the heads of territorial bodies of the federal services at the presentation of the heads of the federal services subordinate to the Ministry of Finance of Russia.

The head of the Federal Tax Service may assign to the position and dismiss form it the heads of interregional inspections and their deputies, deputy heads of departments in the subjects of the Russian Federation, heads of inspections by regions, urban regions, cities without regional division and inspections of interregional level.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 334 of May 26, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Allocation of Extra-Budgetary Resources by the Chief Executor (Executor) of Works to Finance the Works in the Sphere of Outer Space Activities

Specifies the procedure and terms of allocation of extra-budgetary resources by the chief executor (executor) to finance the works envisaged in the state contracts for the works (services) under the Federal Outer Space Program, other federal programs in the sphere of outer space activities in addition to expenditure obligations of the Russian Federation.

The grounds for allocation of extra-budgetary resources for the mentioned financing is an agreement. The maximum share of participation of the chief executors (executors), other organisations and citizens in the financing of works carried out under the concluded state contracts makes 49% in total for each of the works.

Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 331 of May 26, 2005 on the Endorsement of the Rules of Granting Subsidies in 2005 from the Federal Budget to the Budgets of the Subjects of the Russian Federation to Reimburse Part of Expenses Pertaining to the Rehabilitation Campaign for Children and Teenagers

The subsidies provided to the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation are used to cover the cost of accommodations for children and teenagers finding themselves in a hard situation, to organise children's leisure and rehabilitation; meals and travel by intercity transport to the places of recreation and back. The mentioned federal subsidies and transferred to the budgets of the subjects to the accounts of the bodies of the Federal Treasury opened for cash services for execution of the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

Letter of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation No. 2586-MP/70 of May 27, 2005 on the Prices for Design and Survey Works in Construction for the II Quarter of 2005

The following indices of change of the cost are adopted in the II quarter of 2005: for design works in construction in the amount of 1.81 to the level of basic prices as of January 1, 2001 and 13.96 to the level of basic prices as of January 1, 1995; for survey works in construction in the amount of 1.84 to the level of basic prices as of January 1, 2001 and 20.97 to the basic prices calculated according to the Guides of Basic Prices and the Collection of Prices for survey works in capital construction as of January 1, 1991.