Russia intends to lift all surviving state secrecy restrictions on its holdings and sales of precious stones and metals, but not for at least two years, deputy finance minister Alexei Ulyukayev announced yesterday.

He told a press conference that 'the new law is only temporary and we think we will lift the remaining restrictions in future'.

He was referring to a vote in the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, to disclose details of private sector reserves, production and sales of pgms and gems, which were previously classed as state secrets.

The law gives the government similar freedoms, but Mr Ulyukayev said a 'transition period of two to three years' was likely before they were exercised.

He added that 'there is no direct link' between this decision to reveal the information and a decision to reduce Russia's stockpile of pgms and gems, and confirmed that the pgm giant Norilsk Nickel would be able to release current and historic information on stockpiles and sales once the law comes into effect.