MOSCOW. July 19 (Interfax) - A bill specifying the procedure for granting access to state secrets in Russia and the grounds for denying such access passed its third and final reading in the State Duma on Wednesday.
An official, who permanently resides abroad or has close relatives abroad, or if an official or his relatives have foreign citizenship or another document confirming their right to reside permanently in a foreign state, would be denied access to state secrets, the bill said.
The State Duma and Federation Council chairpersons may decide to restrict foreign travel for a member of either chamber of the Federal Assembly who possesses information of special importance or top secret information, it said.
Similar decisions can be made at the regional level. Regional parliamentary speakers and governors could make a similar decision as far as members of regional parliaments and municipal heads are concerned, respectively.
A decision to restrict foreign travel for judges of federal common law courts and federal courts of arbitration, who possess information of special importance or top secret information, is made in line with a regulation approved by the Supreme Court's judicial department in consultation with the presidium of the Russian Council of Judges.
The bill will take effect 180 days after its official publication.
The bill also stipulates that access to a state secret, which was formally granted before the bill takes effect, shall remain valid until expiry. A decision to restrict foreign travel for a citizen who possesses information of special importance or top secret information, which was made before the bill takes effect, shall be valid until the restriction expires.