Putin signs smoking ban bill into law

MOSCOW, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a smoking ban bill into law, the Kremlin said Monday.

The law, Protection of Citizens' Health from the Impact of Tobacco Smoke and the Consequences of Tobacco Consumption, bans smoking in public places, including bars, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, stadiums and train stations.

It also imposes measures to reduce the demand for tobacco products and restrict trade in them. Advertising and sponsorship of tobacco is prohibited under the law.

"The purpose of the federal law is to realize the provisions of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which the Russian Federation ratified in 2008," the Interfax news agency quoted an official statement as saying.

The State Duma, or lower house of the parliament, approved the bill on Feb. 12 and the Federation Council, the upper house, passed it on Feb. 20. It will go into effect on June 1.

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