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Putin signs law on commissioners for rights of businessmen

The law was passed by the State Duma lower house of parliament on April 26 and approved by the Federation Council upper house on April 27

MOSCOW, May 8 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the Federal Law “On Commissioners for the Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs in Russia,” the Kremlin official website reports.

The law was passed by the State Duma lower house of parliament on April 26 and approved by the Federation Council upper house on April 27.

It is said in the reference materials of the president’s State Legal Department that the document determines the legal status, main tasks and competence of the RF Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs, as well as the authorised persons to protect the rights of entrepreneurs in the country’s regions.

In accordance with the law, the Commissioner is appointed by the President for a term of five years. The ombudsman reviews complaints of businesses on issues related to the violation of their rights and legitimate interests.

“The Federal Law gives the Commissioner broad powers to protect the rights of entrepreneurs. He has the right to explain to the applicant issues related to his rights and legitimate interests, submit a complaint to a body of state authority, a local self-government body or an official that have the competence to settle claims on the merits, to send to these bodies of authority the conclusion specifying measures to restore the rights and ensure respect for the legitimate interests of these entities, to apply to court for the protection of the rights and lawful interests of other persons, including groups of persons who are the subjects of entrepreneurial activity. He is also vested with other powers,” according to the reference materials to the law.

In addition, the document stipulates that an RF subject can by its law establish the post of the Commissioner for the protection of the rights of entrepreneurs in this subject.

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan