MOSCOW - It seems that airline passengers in Russia will have to pay extra for their security, the Vremya Novostei newspaper reports.

Alexander Neradko, head of the Federal Service for Transport Control, said passengers would have to pay a security fee of $5 to $10. According to him, the money will be spent on the acquisition of control systems and accident prevention equipment for airports.

Mr. Neradko made the statement after visiting an airport in the city of Kazan, where a large business terminal is being constructed. It will be equipped with advanced video surveillance systems, explosive detectors and other security equipment. “This is expensive, but public security is worth it,” Mr. Neradko said. In his opinion, passengers should also pay for their security.

According to him, amendments to aviation regulations are being prepared to encourage airline companies to charge extra security fees from passengers.

In the wake of a double air disaster in late August, Mr. Neradko was the first Russian official to suggest that passengers themselves should pay for their security. Before that, airline companies and airports were held responsible for flight security. Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin, chairman of a government commission to investigate the August crashes, said it was necessary to retrain the personnel of airline carriers, including their security services. Passenger registration and baggage control requirements were tightened at Russian airports. Mr. Levitin said the government was ready to finance the modernization of security systems at airports and train stations (according to preliminary estimates, the costs would exceed $9m). Now, the government wants passengers to contribute to the anti-terrorist campaign.