MOSCOW, May 8 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law on ombudsmen for the protection of business people's rights in Russia.
The document defines the legal status, general objectives and competence of federal and regional business ombudsmen, the Kremlin reports on its website.
Business ombudsmen are assigned by the president for five years.
The ombudsmen will protect the rights and legitimate interests of the business community, monitor federal and regional authorities for their compliance with the rights of business people, promote the development of public institutions aimed at protecting the rights of businesses and bolster cooperation with them, as well as contribute to the development and implementation of government policy in this area.
According to the law, ombudsmen can issue binding requests to suspend the operation of non-regulatory acts issued by local authorities and send substantiated proposals to the Russian president to revoke government resolutions and instructions.
A business ombudsman cannot be a member of parliament, hold a government post, or any other paid or voluntary job (with the exception of teaching, research or creative positions).
The law was approved by the Federation Council, Russia's upper house, on April 27.
