MOSCOW, April 24 (RAPSI) - The State Duma has adopted a presidential bill in the second and third readings which authorizes the Federal Security Service to station its employees in other countries on a permanent basis.

"Certain recent developments call for sending Russian specialists and advisers to other countries," the service's deputy head Yuri Gorbunov said when presenting the initiative in the first reading. "The authorities in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Kyrgyzstan have asked Russia for assistance, and we have signed agreements with them."

The new law authorizes the Federal Security Service to dispatch its specialists to other countries to serve for an indefinite period upon agreement with the local security or law enforcement services. This will make investigating transnational crimes more effective.

Until recently, Federal Security Service employees were sent to serve abroad for a period of three to six months. There was no regulation allowing them to be stationed in other countries for an indefinite period to help local services.

NATO countries send advisers to other countries for longer periods, the explanatory note reads.

According to the financial and economic note to the bill, the new law will require additional government spending of $3.5 million per year in order to keep 45 Russian security advisers stationed abroad.