MOSCOW, December 4 - RAPSI. President Vladimir Putin has approved a new order to form the parliament's upper house. The corresponding document was published on Tuesday on the government's official legal website.

Putin submitted the corresponding bill to the State Duma in June.

The law retains the upper house's status as a non-partisan body, but future senators will have to be voted in via regional elections.Presently, each region sends two representatives to the Federation Council - one from the governor and one from the regional legislative assembly. Only a State Duma deputy, a regional legislative assembly deputy, or a regional representative body deputy can serve as a senator.

According to the newly adopted law, only a regional legislative assembly deputy is eligible to become a senator from the regional legislative body's side. The chairman of the legislative assembly, any faction, or one-fifth of the legislative assembly can nominate candidates.

After his election, the governor will send one of three candidates to serve as senator. If for some reason none of the candidates can or choose to serve as a senator, the governor will choose another candidate from among the regional parliamentary deputies.