#7
Anti-tobacco law comes into force in Russia
ITAR-TASS

Moscow, 14 January: For the first time, tobacco smoking restrictions have been introduced in Russia. They are foreseen by a federal law that was adopted by the Russian parliament six months ago and came into force today.

The law, in particular, prohibits retail sale [as received] of tobacco products to people under 18, and bans smoking at working places, in public, municipal and air (in case of flights lasting less than three hours) transport, in roofed sport facilities, in health and cultural organizations, and in the premises occupied by governmental authorities, but for specifically designated areas.

Moreover, showing the tobacco smoking is prohibited "in all new TV programmes, films and plays, unless such process is an indivisible part of the creative design". The law contains another provision prohibiting "showing tobacco smoking by public and political figures in mass media".

According to the [Russian] legislation, the law came into force six months after the day of its official publication, 14 July 2001.