Bill on tightening counter-terrorism security of energy facilities submitted to Russia's State Duma

MOSCOW. Jan 18 (Interfax) - A bill to increase fines for failure to comply with requirements to ensure security and counter-terrorism protection of facilities belonging to the fuel and energy sector has been submitted to the State Duma.

The relevant bill was published in the database of the lawmaking activity of the parliament's lower house on Wednesday.

In accordance with the bill, the violation of security and counterterrorism protection of the facilities of the fuel and energy sector, which are identified as low-risk facilities, will entail the imposition of an administrative fine on individuals ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles; on officials - from 50,000 to 100,000 rubles, or disqualification for six months to one year; on legal entities - from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles.

If the security of these facilities of medium risk is violated, it is proposed to impose a fine from 10,000 to 15,000 rubles on individuals, from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles on officials, or disqualification for one to two years, from 200,000 to 600,000 rubles on legal entities.

The breach of security of high-risk facilities of the fuel and energy sector, according to the bill, will result in administrative fines from 15,000 to 20,000 rubles for individuals; from 200,000 to 400,000 rubles for officials, or disqualification for two years to three years; from 600,000 to one million rubles for legal entities.

Following its endorsement the law will take effect on June 1, 2023, the document reads.

"The situation as regards the security of the facilities of the fuel and energy sector leaves much to be desired," Alexander Khinshtein, co-author of the bill and chairman of the State Duma's Information Policy Committee, said. "According to the Russian National Guard, only 34.2% of the facilities fully comply with mandatory security requirements," he said on Telegram on Wednesday.

"Without toughening responsibility, it is impossible to put things in order, and in the current conditions, this is especially relevant," he said.