MOSCOW — President Dmitry Medvedev ordered Russia to observe daylight-savings time year-round.
Under Medvedev's idea, Russia will move its clocks forward one hour at the end of March as is done in Western Europe. But when European clocks fall back in the autumn, Russia's will stay where they are.
Medvedev said Tuesday that moving the clock back adversely affects some people and was a burden on farmers. However, opponents of summer time in other countries argue that advancing the clocks causes the same problems.
News reports of Medvedev's remarks did not clarify whether he would make the change by decree or propose legislation that would need parliamentary approval.
This was Medvedev's second attempt to control time. He already cut the number of time zones in Russia from 11 to nine.