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Deadline for Officials to Disclose Foreign Assets Passes

The three-month period provided for state and municipal officials to get rid of their assets abroad expired Monday, with no officials displaying a desire to resign their positions at the last moment.

Resignation requests may be submitted later, head of the State Duma committee on regulations Sergei Popov told RIA-Novosti. Popov said his committee does not know how many legislators had foreign bank accounts, noting that deputies determine for themselves how to deal with their affairs.

Fifteen deputies have voluntarily reported having accounts in foreign banks, Communist Party Deputy Vladimir Pozdnyakov said.

Several legislators have already given up their posts in order to focus on their businesses.

A law obliging high ranking officials to close their foreign bank accounts and liquidate their foreign assets came into force on May 19 and legislators were given three months to comply.

The ban effects a host of government officials including Duma deputies, regional leaders, investigators, the heads of state-owned corporations and their families.

Pozdnyakov said that starting Monday representatives of the media, the Public Chamber, law enforcement and political parties will be able to make official inquiries if a deputy is expected of keeping foreign bank accounts or property.

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