The law aimed at preventing foreign governments and organizations from influencing decision-making in Russia also prohibits officials from work in the management bodies of foreign non-governmental organizations and at their offices within the country.
The law, which will come into force within 30 days of its publication, namely refers to the Audit Chamber chief and auditors, the chairman of the Central Bank, and customs officials.
The new rules also apply to the secretary of the Security Council, prosecutors, judges, State Courier Service officials, Federation Council members, State Duma deputies, servicemen, local self-government officials including heads of administrations, civil servants, regional lawmakers, and Interior Ministry officers.
A member of the Rodina faction in the lower house, Ivan Kharchenko - one of the authors of the bill - said in November payments running into tens of thousands of dollars which Russian officials often receive for lecturing abroad could be "interpreted as a disguised and sophisticated way of influencing decision making."
"We believe that if an official serves Russia and its people, he must be financed exclusively from the federal coffers," Kharchenko said.
