Russia Adopts Anti-Smoking Law

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a ban on smoking in public places, the Kremlin website said on Monday. The law envisages a gradual ban on smoking in public, including in government buildings, healthcare and educational facilities, cultural sites, sports stadiums and on public transport. The law comes into force on June 1, 2013, though some of its provisions, including a total ban on smoking in restaurants, trains and hotels, will only come into effect one year later. The legislation also imposes a total ban on tobacco advertising. Tobacco companies will be barred from holding promotional prize draws and sponsoring public events and competitions. The bill also prohibits display of tobacco products in shops. Sales in retail kiosks will be banned from June 2014, and minimum prices will be set for cigarettes, which currently cost just 40 rubles ($1.30) a pack.

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20130225/179671739/Putin-Signs-Russian-Anti-Smoking-Bill-Into-Law.html