[Intl-tobacco] Russia's Parliament Bans Smoking in Parliament

[Robert Weissman]

Russia's Parliament Bans Smoking
Source: AP, Wednesday, 6/28/00
Wednesday, June 28, 2000; 3:08 p.m. EDT

MOSCOW =96=96 Citing tobacco's health risks, Russia's lower house of
parliament voted Wednesday to ban smoking on its premises.

Russia is one of the world's most smoker-friendly countries, and smokers
can often be seen lighting up in parliament's offices, halls and
stairwells.

The resolution passed in the lower house, the State Duma, by a vote of
290-72 with three abstentions, according to the Duma press service. The
bill cited the need to "promote a healthy lifestyle and increase labor
productivity," the ITAR-Tass news agency said.

However, nationalist lawmaker Alexei Mitrofanov claimed the measure had a
political thrust. He called it "part of a larger campaign against Western
tobacco monopolies that control the Russian market," ITAR-Tass said.

Smoking in Russia is allowed almost everywhere other than on public
transportation. More than 50 percent of Russians smoke, and doctors cite
the high rate as a reason for Russians' low life expectancy.