Associations of employers, chambers of commerce and industry not be designated as foreign agents - Duma committee head Piskaryov

MOSCOW. June 16 (Interfax) - A number of proposals, put forward by the business community and associations of employers, will be taken into account in preparations for the second reading of the bill "On Control over Operations of Parties under Foreign Influence," bill co-author, head of the State Duma commission investigating foreign interference in Russian internal affairs and the State Duma Security Committee Vasily Piskaryov told reporters.

"Before the second reading, we will propose clarifying amendments based on the proposals from the business community. For instance, it is proposed that the list of entities that cannot be designated as foreign agents include associations of employers and chambers of commerce and industry and that the list of individuals to whom the foreign agent status does not apply be broadened," Piskaryov said.

The amendments also clarify the moment of designation of the foreign agent status and augment the bill with a new article that explains criteria for listing foreign agent affiliates in the register, he said.

Piskaryov met with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the Delovaya Rossiya and Opora Russia civil organizations at the State Duma on Wednesday.

Other amendments may be made on Thursday, as the period for their submission has not expired, and deputies are expecting the government to submit a list of necessary by-laws by the time the bill is discussed at a plenary meeting, Piskaryov said.

The bill regulating operations of foreign agents in Russia passed the first reading in the State Duma on June 7.

The bill is supposed to combine and update key provisions of various federal laws in a single legislative act to regulate the foreign agent status.