On Tuesday Russian president submitted to parliament a bill allowing top officials to stay in office until they are 70 years old.

      "In order to keep highly-qualified top staff in public service, the bill allows a federal public servant serving at a senior executive position to have his or her tenure extended at the decision of the Russian president until he or she reaches the age of 70," the Kremlin's press service quoted a comment to the draft.

      Russia's officials said the move might help Russia to deal with the effects of its rapidly ageing population. More than 13 percent of Russians are currently older than 65.

      According to the current version of the "On the state civil service" law, dated July 27, 2004, senior executive officials and highly-qualified public workers are not allowed to stay in job beyond the age of 65.

      The new law's version will be following the general trend enshrined in the Russian laws regarding judges, prosecutors and investigators, whose age limit is 70.