Duma Passes Bill On Privatization Of State Property

The State Duma passed the bill 'On Privatization of State and Municipal Property' on the third reading today. According to the new bill, the government was obliged to elaborate on a list of state and municipal companies to be privatized and present it to the President for his approval. This list will include strategic enterprises, such as federal unitary enterprises or joint stock ventures with state shares that are strategically important for Russia. Companies from the list, whose privatization will be approved by the president, will be included in the privatization program. Gazprom and RAO UES (Unified Systems of Russia) of Russia have already been listed in the approved bill. 259 deputies voted for the bill and 92 were against it with no abstentions.