MOSCOW, April 17 - RAPSI. The Federation Council approved on Wednesday a government-sponsored bill on administrative detention, adding a requirement that detained individuals should be treated politely by the detention center administration, staff and medical personnel.

The bill is aimed at harmonizing the Russian administrative detention practice with internationally accepted standards. It defines the rights of detained individuals, including the right to legal assistance, to send correspondence and petitions, and to receive parcels, free bed linens, personal hygiene items, books and periodicals.

The bill requires that smokers and non-smokers should be kept separately provided there is sufficient room. It introduces prison administration supervision and control by the respective authority, the court and the prosecutors, as well as the civic watch.

According to the bill, judges, prosecutors, investigators, police officers, and firefighters, as well as individuals who have served with the security and foreign intelligence services under contract, should be kept separately.

The bill allows for the following actions with regard to detention center inmates - fingerprinting, photographing, and audio and video recording