MOSCOW, February 2 - RAPSI. Non-governmental businessmen associations will receive the right to file lawsuits to protect their interests, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at the Russia-2012 forum.

"Small business owners will have opportunities to protect their interests and to argue with top officials - say at a governor's reception - not on their own behalf, but on behalf of a rather powerful non-government organization. This should be stipulated by law," Putin said.

According to the PM, the sphere of class actions for businessmen should be extended.