Russian Federation

[RU] Regulation on Access to Information

IRIS 2003-4:1/35

Olga Motovilova

Moscow Media Law and Policy Centre

On 12 February 2003, the Government Regulation "About providing access to information on the activity of federal executive bodies" was adopted. With a view towards protecting the rights of citizens and organizations in accessing information, the Regulation approves the "List of data on the activity of the Government of the Russian Federation and of federal executive bodies to be published on information systems of general use". It excludes data considered as state secrets or limited access information .

Access to information (among this are details of bills of federal laws, public service vacancies and job criteria, conditions regarding the protection of the population and territories in emergencies, open public competitions, auctions, tenders, expert examinations; etc., 53 categories in total), shall be provided by creating information resources to be regularly placed on information systems of general use, including Internet.

In addition, federal executive bodies are obliged to regularly inform citizens and organizations on their activity by other ways. Financing of all these actions shall be provided from the federal budget.

The governmental Regulation comes into effect on 15 May 2003.