Vladimir Putin deems it possible to ban sale of land to foreigners at a certain stage

President of Russia Vladimir Putin deems it possible to forbid sale of land to foreigners at a certain stage. Opening the Monday meeting of the State Council on the question of agricultural land sale and purchase, the president of Russia stated: "I understand the concern of those who believe that at the present stage it is possible for Russia to legislatively prohibit purchase of land by foreigners". Having noted that such a ban exists in many countries, the head of state again said that "possibly, at a certain stage - until we finally regulate the market and realize what is happening in this sphere - no haste should be made" with selling land to foreigners. At the same time Putin recalled that at a meeting of the State Council presidium it was proposed as an option to regulate sale of land to foreigners in the border Regions and in some other areas by special decrees of the president. According to the head of state, nationwide consensus must be attained on this question. The president counts on "an interested approach of the Federation Council and the State Duma" (the upper and lower chambers of parliament) to this problem. Putin also voiced the view that "responsibility for misuse of land" must be laid down in the law on purchase and sale of farmland. Besides, "the state's priority right to acquire land" must be registered in the document. As Putin noted, it is a so-called "anti-corruption reservation".