Federation Council ready to draft a bill On National Security

Seeking to secure legal measures to combat terrorism, the Federation Council (Upper House of the Russian Parliament) is ready to draft a bill "On National Security," Upper House Speaker Sergei Mironov has told the press on Wednesday.

Special parliamentary hearings are likely to be held for the purpose.

Mironov noted that the senators find it necessary to introduce amendments to a number of Russian laws. These amendments should step up the work of the state authorities and law-enforcement bodies in preventing terrorist attacks similar to that which occurred in Moscow on October 23.

"These amendments need to be introduced as soon as possible," the Speaker noted.

Mironov reminded those present that on Wednesday the Upper House proposed a $3 billion rouble increase in the funds for anti-terrorist activities, which will step up operational work." Answering the questions of the journalists, the Federation Council Speaker spoke in favor of the State Duma (Lower House) decision against creating a special parliamentary commission to investigate the circumstances of the terrorist attacks in Moscow. "The State Duma's decision is reasonable and right," Mironov said, adding that the parliamentarians "needed to focus on specific tasks."