MOSCOW, February 25 - RAPSI. The Federal Migration Service (FMS) has proposed a bill on phasing in a newly designed Russian internal passport, deputy chief of the service Anatoly Fomenko announced Monday at a Civic Chamber meeting.

Fomenko said that the bill allows Russian citizens to choose between the 1997 passport design and a new-generation passport until 2025.

The Ministry of Mass Communications, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Universal Electronic Card company and the Federal Migration Service are currently discussing a bill that would integrate a universal electronic card in the new-generation passport starting from 2015.

The universal electronic card can be used for various public services, including paying residential utility bills, transport fares and certain other purchases. Fomenko said the bill had been sent to the federal executive bodies for consideration. He added that the bill may shortly see significant amendments, but did not go into any detail.