MOSCOW, February 22 (RAPSI) – President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill removing time limit for free privatization of housing for all Russian citizens into law.

The document has been published on the official website of legal information.

According to current legislation, privatization of housing was to end on March 1, 2017. The federal law is to take effect from the day of its official publication.

The State Duma passed the bill on February 10. The Federation Council approved the initiative on February 15.

Initially, the draft law proposed to extend privatization time limit up to 2020 for certain groups of citizens: orphaned children, inhabitants of Crimea and people who are to be resettled from unstable housing. The bill was amended to the second reading. The lower house of parliament passed the adjusted bill including amendments making privatization perpetual for all citizens.