Officially

Government

Draft government orders appointing state representatives to the boards of directors of joint stock companies with state participation have been submitted to the government by the Ministry of Economic Development and will be considered by the end of January 2005. These orders apply, in particular, to Gazprom, RAO UES of Russia, JSC Russian Railways, ALROSA, and Aeroflot.

Departments

On January 21, the Accounts Chamber Board will consider a program for a comprehensive audit of the implementation of the law on preferential payments at the federal and regional levels. It is expected that the audit will primarily be carried out in those subjects of the federation where the most difficult situation has arisen with the replacement of benefits with monetary compensation. Regional control and accounting bodies will take part in the board. At the meeting of members of the board of the Accounts Chamber, it was also decided to conduct quarterly monitoring of the implementation of the law on preferential payments.

State Duma

The State Duma Commission on Problems of the North Caucasus proposes to introduce liability for justified threats to commit terrorist attacks. This was announced by the chairman of the commission, Vladimir Katrenko. Members of the commission introduced a block of amendments to the second reading of the draft law “On Combating Terrorism,” according to which, in particular, it is planned to punish not only the direct commission of a terrorist act, but also the attempt to carry it out, as well as “justified threats” of terrorist attacks.

Federation Council

The parliamentary commission investigating the terrorist attack in Beslan has begun drawing up a final report based on the results of the investigation . The work of the group of experts was headed by member of the parliamentary commission Leonid Bindar. “In this report, the parliamentary commission will give a political assessment of the organizational readiness of all branches of government for such situations and the legal regulation of issues of countering terrorism,” notes Leonid Bindar.

Regions

At a meeting on Monday, the Election Commission of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug postponed the execution of the Supreme Court's decision to cancel the registration of the current head of administration Vladimir Butov as a candidate for regional governor in the upcoming elections. On January 14, the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the NAO court, which canceled the registration of the current head of administration Vladimir Butov as a candidate in the upcoming elections on January 23 for the district governor. Vladimir Butov's cassation appeal against the decision of the district court was left unsatisfied by the Supreme Court. Elections for the head of the administration of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug are scheduled for January 23.

In Chechnya, a draft agreement on the division of jurisdiction between the federal center and the republican authorities is almost ready. In the near future, it will be sent to federal authorities for consideration, Chechen President Alu Alkhanov said yesterday. According to him, the draft agreement provides for the preferences necessary for the republic to accelerate the development of its economy.

Based on materials from news agencies and our own information