Although the government has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to reform, a conservative, often obstructionist parliament has forced the government to maintain some statist policies such as price controls, slowdowns in property rights, subsidies, controlled credits, and bottlenecks in privatization. Direct credits and subsides have declined, but agriculture and some large, state-owned industries, both of which have substantial influence in parliament, continue to receive state subsidies. Property Ownership of real property is still being legislated, and a lack of legal protection of property has been of significant concern to investors. Urban residents are allowed to purchase their residences for nominal fees. Foreigners cannot own land but can lease it for up to ninety-nine years.
Russian companies have the right to own the land on which their facilities stand.
State and collective farms have been reorganized. About 47 percent became closed joint-stock farms, and 11 percent formed cooperative agricultural enterprises. There is a labyrinth of restrictions on selling and exchanging property, and the concepts of private property rights and outright land ownership have yet to be codified in a cogent, comprehensive form. This limits the way individuals can structure their holdings. However, enforcement remains lax and pirating is widespread.