Russian governors approve bill on farmland sale

Governors who have spoken Monday at a State Council session concerning farmland sale, are showing their approval of the bill submitted by the government. Yet each has come out with certain amendments and proposals. Thus, Rostov governor Vladimir Chub believes that the primary yardstick by which the bill's merits can be judged is improvement of agrarians' life. Rural dwellers being the most conservative part of the population should benefit from the adoption of this document, he added. Nevertheless, he is certain that one cannot afford to wait for all being satisfied and therefore the bill should be passed without delay. Novosibirsk governor Viktor Tolokonsky, who is another advocate of the bill, has offered reducing the minimal land area owned by one person in one district from 35 to 10 hectares. According to him, this figure is quite realistic today for being accepted. Besides, Tolokonsky pronounced himself in favour of the law's gradual introduction in different regions with different conditions.