Initial polls indicate that two thirds of Russians support a decision taken by the Duma today to remove the mandate of Gennadiy Gudkov. As a result of his loss of mandate, he also loses his diplomatic immunity, which means the former KGB agent stands to be prosecuted for illegal business dealings of which he is widely suspected. A preliminary investigation will be completed by the end of September, after which a decision about any potential prosecution will be made.
From MK.RU:
The Spravedlivaya Rossiya’s [A Just Russia] Gennadiy Gudkov’s Mandate Has Been Removed
On Friday, the State Duma voted to remove the mandate of SR MP Gennadiy Gudkov.
With 226 votes necessary for the vote to be passed, 294 MPs voted in favour, 151 against, and three abstained.
Following a discussion about the issue, the speaker unexpectedly put the draft document to a vote. Normally, an accordance with the rules, “the voting hour”, during which the lower house votes on all statutes and laws, begins at 17.00.
Comments from MK.RU:
Москвич:
What else did you expect from the Kremlin’s button-pushers?
[Note: votes in the Duma take place via buttons placed at each MP’s seat. The word “button-pushers” above refers to those MPs who press the buttons of an absent MP whose seat is nearby. It is illegal, although it was at one time very common.]
Ольга:
What’s more, half of the SRs voted for his mandate to be removed.
Шкода:
It’s shameful that our Duma is like that. They heard the signal from above and rushed to action like a pack of mongrels. It’s not lawful, nor it is common sense, it’s just fulfilling “master’s” wishes. Disgusting and shameful.
россиянин: (responding to above)
What’s shameful? What you have in the Czech Republic or Slovakia (judging by your username Шкода [note: Skoda]) is shameful, but in our country, it’s all legal!
vadim:
Actually, the mandates of all of the United Russia faction members should be removed. During the elections, there was so much vote-stealing that they were up to their ears in it.
Чех Мартин:
Thank God )). Let him build his business outside of the Duma.
Ирина:
A mandate and breaking the law are incompatible.
Олег:
And was there a trial? The mandate of an MP can ONLY be removed by a court, not a bunch of obedient assholes. Read the law of Russia and the constitution (while they’ve not changed it, because obviously they will soon, P[utin] definitely doesn’t need it)
ввв:
Well, here’s the first sign. More to come.
Дима:
This is how it was in ’37, everyone that took part in trials and executions hoped that they wouldn’t come after them… but then they came for them too… so tomorrow you need to go to the rally to fraternise with the police and the riot police against the thieves and crooks!
[Note: a co-ordinated opposition rally is planned in Moscow and St. Petersburg for the 16th September]
Ник Псковский:
They’re all freaks. They would all see themselves as Medved-Putin henchment! As they say, they saw the speck in the eye of another, but haven’t noticed the log in their own! Shitocrats!!!
Юрий Плисецкий:
With flashing lights, he promised he wouldn’t give up his mandate, not him, who’s summoned everyone honestly and legally, and he’s suffered. He fought for it… poor bloke, I wonder where the armed guards and the protesters guns came from.
