MOSCOW, February 12 - RAPSI. President Vladimir Putin has signed amendments to the Civil Code and the law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) allowing groups and individuals to establish unions on Tuesday. The document has been posted on the government's official legal information website.

Until recently, only legal entities were allowed to form unions.

In accordance with the amendments, an association (union) is defined as an organization of five or more legal entities and/or individuals established through voluntary or, in cases approved by law, mandatory association to protect common interests, including professional interests, to pursue publicly important goals and other non-commercial aims that do not contradict the law.

A union must be a non-governmental organization. It must be established to coordinate business operations and to represent and protect common property interests, and also own its own property.

A union will be liable for its obligations with its property unless otherwise stipulated by law, but will not be liable for its members.