ST. PETERSBURG, July 10 (RAPSI) – The Federation Council on Wednesday approved the law on improving the federal counterterrorism system, with a focus on preventive measures.

Under the law, the government is to issue mandatory requirements on the counterterrorism protection of facilities (territory), their classes, and the procedure for drafting such requirements and monitoring their implementation.

It also introduces the notion of “counterterrorism protection of a facility (territory),” which applies to public places and their protection against the threat of terrorism. Public places are areas that are open and accessible to people in a city or town, or special areas outside city/town limits, or common spaces in a building or any other structure or facility where more than 50 people can gather at the same time.

The law says that sole business proprietors and people who use their property for non-profit public purposes must comply with the counterterrorism protection requirements for facilities (territory) which they own or legally hold. Legal entities are to ensure compliance with these requirements at the facilities they own or legally hold.

If the president signs the bill into law, it will become effective 90 days after its official publication.