Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvyienko proposed imposing an embargo on the export of timber from Russia to ‘restore order’ in this industry, Interfax reports.
Valentina Matviyenko has asked Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to instruct one of the government agencies to urgently draft changes to the legislation that would stop illegal logging and export of timber. Matviyenko believes that most of the industry operates in the shadow sector and that massive illegal logging is being carried out disguised as sanitary works.
“There is no control. The Rosleskhoz forestry regulator has issued a few recommendations instead of preparing and making changes to the legislation that would restore order, tighten control, and stop illegal logging,” Matviyenko said at a meeting of the parliament’s Council of Legislators with the Prime Minister.
However, until the authorities take “state measures,” illegal logging needs to be stopped even for a while, she said. Earlier, Rosleskhoz also urged to stop illegal sales of timber products in Siberia and the Far East to China. This is the reason for illegal logging. Matviyenko is committed to address this problem, stressing that the Federation Council will return to the “black loggers” issue twice a year.