MOSCOW, May 16 (RAPSI) - Law enforcement agencies would have to obtain a court warrant for access to bank account information, according to amendment recommended for inclusion prior to the second reading of a bill on the prevention of illegal financial transactions. The amendments were proposed by the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets.

The amendments stipulate limiting access to individual and business accounts to court ordered warrants only.

The revised bill would also specify that a warrant is only to be issued upon the presentation of a reasonable possibility of a crime, either planned, committed, or being committed (when there is a lack of sufficient evidence to open a criminal case). The list of officials entitled to account access will be included in the additional regulations.

Natalia Burykina, head of the committee, says, "Right now, law enforcement agencies can access bank information without a warrant. This means that if information is required to investigate tax law violations, the police have the right to access it. We propose depriving them of this right."