MOSCOW, May 14 (RIA Novosti) – The lower chamber of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, is set to approve a bill imposing fines for smoking in public places by the end of its spring session on July 14, its deputy speaker said on Tuesday.
The bill punishing smoking in non-smoking areas with fines of up to 1,500 rubles (about $48) was introduced to the State Duma in mid-February and is being considered in a first reading on Tuesday.
“These amendments… are required to enforce the implementation of the [anti-smoking] law, which comes into force on June 1, by imposing relevant sanctions for violating it,” Deputy State Duma Speaker Sergei Zheleznyak of the ruling United Russia party told journalists.
The anti-smoking law sets out a gradual ban on smoking in public, including in government buildings, healthcare and educational facilities, cultural sites, sports stadiums and on public transport.
Smoking Laws in EU Countries
The law comes into force on June 1, 2013, though some of its provisions, including a total ban on smoking in restaurants, trains and hotels, will only come into effect a year later.
The legislation also imposes a total ban on tobacco advertising. Tobacco companies will be barred from holding promotional prize draws and sponsoring public events and competitions.
The new law also prohibits display of tobacco products in shops. Sales in retail kiosks will be banned from June 2014, and minimum prices will be set for cigarettes, which currently cost as little as 40 rubles ($1.24) a pack.
Quit Smoking Right Now!