MOSCOW, March 17 (RAPSI) — The State Duma adopted in the third and final reading on Wednesday a law granting the Minister of Justice the right to visit pre-trial detention centers and correctional colonies without special permission, according to the official website of the lower house of Russia’s parliament.

State Duma lawmakers adopted in the third reading the amendments expanding the list of persons entitled to unimpeded visits to pre-trial and penal institutions, among them is the Minister of Justice, the State Duma said in the statement.

Chair of the Committee on Security and Corruption Control of the lower house of Russia’s parliament Vasily Piskarev explained that thus the amendments are to close a gap existing in the current legislation.

The possibility to promptly visits pre-trial detention centers and penal facilities will provide the Minister with additional opportunities to find out personally about the conditions of detention of convicts, suspects and accused, and inspect how their rights, freedoms and legitimate interests are observed, the parliamentarian said.