Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law allowing State Duma deputies to be stripped of their positions for prolonged absenteeism, the Slon.ru news website reported Wednesday.
A copy of the law on the Russian government internet portal said that deputies may be stripped of their mandates after an absence of thirty days or longer. The law puts emphasis on the importance of continuing parliamentary duties such as interaction with voters and attendance to State Duma meetings with committees and commissions, Slon.ru reported.
Only three deputies have lost their positions in the Duma's history, the state-run TASS news agency reported. In 1995, Sergei Mavrodi's mandate was removed due to "neglect of parliamentary duties," in 2012, Gennady Gudkov's was revoked due to engaging in “commercial activity” and in 2015 Konstantin Shirshov was deprived of his mandate after being convicted on charges of fraud.
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