Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered a cut of almost half in the number of blue lights carried on official vehicles to 569 from 969, starting in July, Kommersant said, citing the order.

Heads of regions are may only use the hood-mounted blue lights within their regions and chiefs of federal agencies, except for top law-enforcement and defense officials, are restricted to using them in Moscow, the newspaper said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Marina Sysoyeva in Moscow at msysoyeva@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Claudia Carpenter at ccarpenter2@bloomberg.net