MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill titled, "On changes to certain statutory acts of the Russian Federation following the passing of the Federal Law 'On regulating the activities of Russian citizens and Russian legal entities in Antarctica'," according to the Kremlin website.
The federal bill was passed by the State Duma on May 18, 2012, and approved by the Federation Council on May 30, 2012.
The bill aims to improve the legal regulations governing activities in Antarctica. Thus, Article 64 of the Federal Law "On civil status acts" has been modified to include grounds for official registration of a death in Antarctica of a member of a Russian Antarctic expedition.
Article 1127 of the Russian Civil Code has been modified to give the effect of a notarized will to any will of an Antarctic expedition member, certified by a head of a Russian Antarctic station or seasonal field base.
Changes to Articles 40 and 146 of the Russian Criminal Procedural Code allows heads of Russian Antarctic stations or seasonal field bases to institute criminal proceedings as public prosecutors and to conduct urgent investigative procedures.
Also, changes have been made to the Code of Administrative Offenses, setting the statute of limitations for administrative offenses, imposing an administrative liability and fines for violation of the rules and requirements for Antarctic activities.
