Brussels, 17/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The lower chamber of the Russian parliament ratified the accession protocol of Russia to the WTO on 10 July. This had been validated by the members of the multinational organisation in December 2011, after 18 years of roller-coaster negotiations. The vote in the Duma was very tight, with the protocol being ratified by 238 votes in favour, 208 against and one abstention. The party in power, United Russia, has an absolute majority at the Duma, with 238 seats out of 450. The other groups that are represented voted against the protocol, deeming that accession to the WTO will bring bankruptcy for Russian companies. The protocol must now be approved by the Council of the Federation (the high chamber), then signed by President Vladimir Putin, to come into force 30 days later. Russia will become the 156th member of the WTO. (EH/transl.fl)