Presidential Decree No. 483 of 1998, regarding the structure of the Federal Administration", established the creation of the Federal Ministry on Land Policy. Considering the accomplishment of the land reform a crucial economic, social and political issue, the State Duma recommends the President to transfer the functions of the State Committee on Land Resources and Land Survey to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. This measure, according to the State Duma, would facilitate the accomplishment of the land reform.

After examination of the Federal Law the "Land Code", adopted by the State Duma 22 April 1998, in accordance with the Article 106 of the Russian Constitution, the Council of the Federation decrees to ratify it.

The purpose of this Order is to guarantee the accomplishment of the Presidential Decree No. 337 of 1996 "On carrying into effect the constitutional right of the citizens on land". This Order entitles the State Committee on Land, in accordance with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Justice, to validate the forms of contract dealing with the transfer of the land shares in leasehold to agricultural enterprises, farmers, to stock capital of the agricultural enterprises.

The Government decrees that the Ministry on Land Policy, Construction and Living Facilities (MINZEMSTROJ) has the status of a Federal Authority responsible for the carrying out and coordination of the unitary state policy in the field of land relationship, construction, geodetic and map-making service, architecture, urban development, land registration and valuation.

This Decree invalidates articles 2-23, 30-32, Part 2 of article 34, Parts 3 and 4 of article 37, articles 39 and 40, Part 2 of article 41, articles 42 and 44, Part 2 of article 47, article 48, point 8 of the first part of article 52, articles 63, 65, 67, 69 and 82, Part 3 of article 83, Part 3 of article 88, articles 97-99, 115-124 of the Land Code of the RSFSR; Law of the RSFSR "On Land Reform" of 1990; articles 5-7, point (b) of the second part of point 1 of article 10 and article 26 of the Law of the RSFSR "On farming" of 1990.This Decree establishes that the authority of the Councils of

This Decree establishes that for the period preceding the adoption of the basic land legislation, physical and juridical persons and public officials are committed to civil liability for the following offences in the field of land administration: for the infringement of legal and administrative procedures in urban construction documentation that caused land squatting; for the infringement in the use of land destined for environmental protection, national parks and recreational purpose; for irrational use of agricultural land and lack of protective measures for soil conservation; for dodging

This Code regulates the accomodation and housing of the popul ation, urban and rural planning, the development of engineering, transport and s ocial infrastructures, rational use of the natural resources and environmental protection for the benefit of tenants.

The people's deputies are entitled to verify the results of the application of the Russian land legislation and to make up for the deficiency and drawbacks in the promotion of land reform in accordance with the local executive authorities and the representatives of the local branches of the Federal Committee on Land Reform and Land Resources and of the local prosecutor's office.

This Federal Law introduces the notion of joint ownership that includes the ownership of the plot of land, on which the edifice is situated, within the boundaries delimited by law. The joint owners are obliged to treat with care the plots of land on which the edifice is situated. The joint ownership extends to the adjoining plots of land within the boundaries delimited by law with the greenery growing on them.

Implements: Federal Law No. 72-FZ on condominiums. (1996-06-15)
Implements: Law No. 4218-I on basic federal housing policy. (1992-12-24)

The President, for the purpose of promoting effectual land tenure, decrees that the priorities of purchase of the plots of land (or the shares of them), on which are situated previously privatized edifices, have physical and juridical persons that own these edifices. The Decree establishes that the property put on sale regards plots of land (or the shares of them) that had been previously conceded to a tenant or a leaseholder on condition of permanent (limitless) tenure, lifelong ownership with the right of inheritance or of limited tenure, including rent.

The purpose of this Order is to modify Order No. 102 on the grounds of abrogation of the Ministerial Decree of the Russian Federation No. 475 of 1996 regarding the validation of the Regulation on the framework and the modality of keeping up of cadastre numbers of real estate and Regulation on the filling in the forms of state registration of real estate and the contracts with it.

Article 3 of this Decree further elaborates the concept, introduced by article 3 of the Law, of administration by the State of all land that is in ownership of the national community. Individuals are prohibited from using land as a commodity for sale. The Central Land Allocation and Land and Forest Land Granting Committee coordinates carrying out of land surveys and the allocation of land in accordance with articles 3 and 4. Other provisions deal with the protection of land rights, use of agricultural land, lawsuits and issue of rules by relevant ministries. (10 articles)