MOSCOW, May 27 (RAPSI) – A bill to protect the rights of individuals and companies put under anti-Russian sanctions imposed by foreign states passed its second and third readings in the lower house of Russian parliament on Wednesday.

Amendments to the Administrative Procedure Code of the Russian Federation have been initiated by MPs representin the United Russia, LDPR and Just Russia parties, according to the State Duma statement.

The draft law sets exclusive jurisdiction of Russian commercial courts in cases involving parties under sanctions and in disputes between a Russian and a foreign parties if restrictive measures against Russians are a ground for the disputes.

Moreover, those under sanctions would receive a right to apply to commercial courts in places of their living or location if their disputes with foreign parties pending in courts abroad on the same grounds.

Also, the bill gives sanctioned persons or companies a right to turn to Russian commercial courts with applications to ban proceedings in foreign courts.

Russian commercial courts, under the draft law, upon a demand of an applicant may award him or her the sum of money to be recovered from a foreign parties involving in the dispute abroad in case of their failure to enforce a judicial act.