MOSCOW, February 1 - RAPSI, Diana Gutsul. Granting the illegal sale of SIM cards the status of an administrative violation will violate the rights of Russian citizens to free communication, Russian attorneys told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) during a poll conducted this week.

A draft law has been submitted to the State Duma this week stipulating a fine of up to 300,000 rubles ($9,930) for individuals who sell SIM cards without the corresponding authority, or who have executed a mobile communications services contract using a fake passport.

Attorney Stanislav Akimov said such measures are directed at controlling the market and simplifying wiring.

Attorney Nikolai Polozov negatively called the measure "useless".

"These are government attempts to limit information. Control over SIM cards is control over citizens," he said. He thinks the draft law will become a source of additional income for law enforcement authorities.

Eduard Budanov stressed that it would be much more efficient to close kiosks selling SIM cards and sell the latter only at specialized mobile phone stores.