The Russian government has approved the agreements for the country's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and sent them to the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, for ratification, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.

All documents to become a full member of the WTO must be ratified by the Russian government, parliament and president by July 23, 2012. Russia spent 18 years trying to enter the WTO, completing its accession in December 2011.

"I would like to congratulate everyone [who is in charge of the WTO accession] for the completion of such important deal. The decision is being made and we have sent the documents [to the Duma] for ratification," Medvedev told a government meeting.

The State Duma will examine the documents at its meeting on July 4, Igor Rudensky, head of the government committee for economic policy, innovation development and business, said earlier on Thursday.