MOSCOW, June 17 (RAPSI) – A bill that would amend the Criminal Code to impose a fine on public officials who fail to abide by executive orders made by President reaches the lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, according to its website. 

The bill was proposed by Dmitry Gorovtsov, Alexander Tarnavsky and Mikhail Yemelyanov (A Just Russia), as well as Anatoly Karpov (United Russia).

An explanatory note reads that compliance standards are especially important in view of the sanctions imposed on Russia by Western countries amid Ukrainian crisis.

According to the National Popular Front, up to 40 percent of the president’s executive orders have not been fulfilled, the note reads.

“The May Executive Orders” is an overarching program for developing social guarantees that Vladimir Putin outlined immediately after taking office in 2012. The program was part of his election campaign.

The MPs say that currently officials who are guilty of negligence or even open sabotage can be fired, at the worst, but are usually transferred to another job.

“The bill would introduce criminal punishment for officials who do not comply with presidential executive orders, directives and instructions or execute them improperly. Compliance standards could be improved through the addition of Article 286.2 to the Criminal Code, on penalties for failing to fulfill or improper fulfillment of presidential executive orders, directives and instructions,” the note reads.

According to the bill, an official whose actions caused a violation of citizens’ rights and legitimate interests will be punished by a fine of up to 3 million rubles (over $55,500) or will be deprived of the right to hold certain posts for up to three years.