| Moscow. During the voting on May 16, the Yabloko
faction of the Russian Federation State Duma will support two
out of seven draft laws "On the turnover of agricultural
lands" drafted by the government and SPS faction deputies
(the Union of Right-WingForces). Yabloko considers it a top priority
to protect the title of citizens to their plots of land from
official dictatorship. The faction will support the two aforementioned
laws as they declare abolition of an anti-constitutional ban on
the sale of agricultural lands.
Supporting at the first reading the laws proposed by the
government and the SPS faction, Yabloko representatives observe
that neither bill will drastically change the situation regarding
the sale of agricultural lands. According to Yabloko deputy leader
Sergey Ivanenko, the variant suggested by the government simply
legalizes the existing state of affairs: In fact. Yabloko perceives
many drawbacks in the draft laws that the State Duma is to consider
in three readings and will take pains to eliminate them. "We
are already preparing amendments for the second reading,"
noted Ivanenko.
The principal point of the amendments is liberalization.
There are many administrative barriers in the government's draft,
which prevent citizens from free possession of land.
The Yabloko faction insists on the introduction of uniform
rules for sale of agricultural lands on the territory of the Russian
Federation, as differentiation contradicts the provisions of the
RF Constitution for the protection of citizens' rights, the single
market, competition and free economic activities.
Yabloko objects to the provision of pre-emptive purchase
rights to plots of land to the subjects of the Russian Federation.
In fact, this would give administrative bodies the right to be
co-owners of all private agricultural property. Such a scheme
is bound to promote corruption and infringe upon the rights of
land owners, increase transaction costs and diminish the security
of rights for prospective purchasers.
Yabloko insists on establishing civilized standards for
the conversion of land shares into plots of land. This procedure
must be specified by the law and ensure protection of citizens
from wanton decisions of local authorities and management of agricultural
operators.
Yabloko has consistently advocated the distribution of
state and municipal lands on a competitiive basis.
Yabloko will support for the draft law in the second reading
if the State Duma adopts the amendments.
See also:
Land Reform
The Yabloko faction:
anti-constitutional ban on transactions with agricultural land
in Russia should be abolished Press Release, May 16, 2002
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