Russian parliament approves free trade agreement

The State Duma on Tuesday approved an agreement establishing a free trade zone in the Commonwealth of Independent States, ITAR-TASS reports.

According to the head of the house committee for CIS affairs, Leonid Slutsky, the ratification of the document was necessary to secure the successful economic development of the CIS member states.

The measure will also make Russia's joining the WTO easier, the lawmaker says.