A view inside the State Duma (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)
December 6, 2006 -- Russia's lower house of parliament today gave preliminary approval to a bill allowing the president to impose sanctions on countries deemed to threaten national security.
The State Duma overwhelmingly passed the bill in the first of three required readings.
Sanctions could be imposed for up to four years and extended by another two years.
One of the authors of the bill, Vladimir Reznik, said it was modeled on U.S. sanctions legislation.
(compiled from agency reports)
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