Federal law “On Basic Guarantees of ElectoralRights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in aReferendum” (as amended onSeptember 27, December 24, 2002; June 23, July 4, 2003)

http://www.legislationline.org/documents/id/4170

Article 37 

7. A legally capablecitizen of the Russian Federation who has attained to the age of 18 years bythe time of signature collection shall be entitled to collect signatures ofvoters, referendum participants. A candidate, an electoral association, anelectoral bloc, an authorized representative of the referendum initiative groupmay enter a contract for signature collection with a person collectingsignatures of voters, referendum participants. Remuneration for such work shallbe paid only through the electoral funds of the candidate, electoralassociation, electoral bloc, through the referendum funds established by thereferendum initiative group.

FederalConstitutional Law of the Russian Federation “About the Referendum of the Russian Federation” (as of April 24, 2008)

http://cis-legislation.com/document.fwx?rgn=6629

Статья 17. Сбор подписей в поддержку инициативыпроведения референдума

3. Право сбора подписей в поддержку инициативы проведенияреферендума принадлежит исключительно членам инициативной группы по проведениюреферендума, входящим в региональную подгруппу, зарегистрированнуюизбирательной комиссией субъекта Российской Федерации, на территории которогоосуществляется сбор подписей.