Upper Chamber of Russian Parliament Approves Several Bills

The Russian Federation Council has approved the draft bill on the relocation of the Russian Constitutional Court from Moscow to St Petersburg, Interfax news agency reported on 24 January.

In December 2006, the upper chamber voted down the corresponding bill approved earlier by the State Duma, and agreed to the court’s relocation after the Duma removed the controversial clause banning the Constitutional Court from holding sessions anywhere except St Petersburg. The court has also been allowed to have a permanent representative mission in Moscow.

At the same morning session on 24 January the Federation Council approved the creation of the state holding company Atomprom for the management of Russia’s nuclear industry; banned persons with dual citizenship from holding ministerial posts; abolished the provision of the law “On the Central Electoral Commission” under which a college decree in law was mandatory for members of the commission; and re-appointed Mikhail Beskmelnitsyn as an auditor of the Russian Audit Chamber.

Sources: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in Russian 0719 gmt, 0711 gmt, 0735 gmt, 0745 gmt, 0749 gmt 24 Jan 07

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