Deadline Set for Russia Regions to Synchronise Laws.

Russia's chief prosecutor on Thursday gave regions a month to synchronise their laws with federal legislation and the constitution in the latest bid by President Vladimir Putin to bring them into line with Moscow. RIA news agency quoted Vladimir Ustinov, named to the post last month, as ordering prosecutors in Russia's 89 regions during a telephone conference call to clear up existing discrepancies within the deadline. Regional prosecutors have the authority to suspend regional laws if they violate the federal legislation and local officials refuse to adjust them. The bills still have to go through two Duma readings and be approved by the Federation Council made up of regional bosses. But Thursday's Duma vote showed that the lower house should be able to overcome any possible veto by the upper chamber. According to data provided at the Duma's request by the chief prosecutor's office, 60 regions have serious discrepancies between local and federal laws, bad enough to justify suspending governors under the new legislation. Ustinov was the first head of a federal office to send his representatives to the newly established federal districts.