State Duma Passes Federal Budget For 2002

The Russian State Duma (lower parliamentary house) passed Friday the fourth final reading of the federal budget for 2002. According to a RIA Novosti correspondent, with the required 226 votes 280 deputies supported the budget, 106 voted against and 3 abstained. The document will be submitted to the Federation Council (upper parliamentary house) for consideration and then to the president for signing.