Russia Raises Minimum Membership For Parties

22 December 2004 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed a new federal law raising the minimum membership requirement for political parties in the country.

The law states that political parties must have at least 50,000 members, and that regional offices need at least 500 members. In some regional branches the minimum requirement will be 250 members.

Previously, political parties needed to have a minimum membership of 10,000 people, with 100 members in regional branches.

(RFE/RL/RIA-Novostei/Interfax)