The amended bill passed the State Duma in its final reading two weeks ago. The initial bill, which proposed banning domestic prices from being quoted in currencies other than the Russian ruble, passed through the State Duma in its second reading last July, but was later returned for revision following long debates in parliament.
In line with the amended bill lawmakers and officials may quote prices in currencies, but the use of terms should be regulated by parliament's internal regulations or presidential decrees.
The bill also states that prices in advertisements should only be quoted in rubles, but they can be specified in currencies, if necessary.
On March 21 President Vladimir Putin issued a presidential decree ordering lawmakers and other officials, including media, to abstain from using the terms "dollar" and "euro" in domestic economic debates, except when necessary.
The bill was initially proposed by Yevgeny Velikhov, the head of the Russian Public Chamber, a body that was set up to act as a bridge between society and the state, and was later backed by the pro-presidential United Russia faction.
Following parliament's first initiative to promote the national currency last May, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said the Cabinet was unlikely to look on the bill favorably, adding that customs statistics and duties in Russia had been fixed in euros and its foreign debt was counted in foreign currencies.
The minister rubbished the original idea, saying it would be ridiculous to talk about global economic matters in rubles. "This issue is completely unreasonable and absurd in its current form."
