Access to Information law

The Russian state Duma yesterday heard the third reading of a bill ("Об обеспечении доступа к информации о деятельности государственных органов и органов местного самоуправления") akin to the freedom of information act. The bill would give citizens the right to gain access to government documents and require officials to disclose information upon request which is not protected by as a state secret.

The bill, first mentioned in a 2005 address by then-President Vladimir Putin, is being backed by the Duma's Information Policy Committee.

While there is legislation currently on the books which allows for official disclosure to citizens, requests are often rejected by the judiciary if they are not submitted by an interested party, that is someone directly concerned with, or mentioned in, the information.

Only time will tell if an increased application of the restrictions in place covering state secrets will limit access to the most potentially damaging and damning information vulnerable to disclosure, such as budgets and expense reports.

The bill now moves to the Federation Council of the RF for consideration. If approved there, it will go to President Dmitry Medvedev to be signed into law. The law would come into force in January 2010 if successful.