Russia Becomes A Little More Western

摘要

While tensions continue to stir between a rising Russian power and its various neighbors to the West over an array of global politics, gas and oil prices, and even international James Bond-like espionage exploits, Russia has recently taken some steps towards assimilating to a more Western European outlook-at least as far as tobacco is concerned. In its first session this year, Russian authorities have proposed a bill that would adhere to the anti-smoking framework convention of the World Health Organization (WHO). If the Legislature (the Duma) passes the law (which, being dominated by pro-Kremlin MPs, it almost certainly will), tobacco companies would be forced to pay higher taxes and face a complete ban on advertising, while smokers would find their packs carrying higher prices and-like the majority of their smoky comrades in the West-be forced to find ways to work around newly implemented public smoking bans.