The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sergei Donskoi said that Russia intends to prohibit imports of polar bear skins and announced the possible transfer of this species to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The Minister discussed these issues during Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov’s meeting with Pamela Anderson, American actress and founder of the Pamela Anderson Foundation for animal protection.

During the 16^th CITES Conference held in Bangkok (Thailand) in March 2013, Russia supported the initiative on tightening the control over polar bear conservation and transferring this species from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I. However, the decision was not approved by the Canadian party, who then received further support from the European Union.

Mr Donskoi said that the 17^th CITES Conference will be held in Johannesburg (South Africa) in September-October 2016 and that Russia will continue to assert its position for prohibition as part of this conference.