MOSCOW - Russian lawmakers said on Monday, Sept. 10, they had found evidence that a prominent opposition deputy violated curbs on business activity of parliament members, but he denounced their findings as a political reprisal.
A ruling by a State Duma committee based on the evidence
paved the way for Gennady Gudkov’s ejection from the lower
parliament house in a vote that may be held a day before
protests on Saturday against Russian President Vladimir Putin
and the ruling United Russia party.
Gudkov, one of the few deputies in the 450-seat Duma to have
taken part in opposition protests last winter that were the
biggest of Putin’s 12-year rule, says the bid to oust him is
politically motivated.
“This is an extrajudicial reprisal. It’s a farce,” Gudkov
said, adding that United Russia lawmakers were rushing to vote
him out of the Duma before Saturday, when Putin’s opponents want
to reignite the street protest movement after a summer lull.
The Duma committee found there was evidence Gudkov engaged
in business activities from which he was barred as a member of
parliament, accusations Gudkov denies.
“There are materials proving his systematic and regular
occupation with business activity,” Andrei Vorobyov, head of the
United Russia faction in the Duma, said.
“Our faction supports this decision and the decision to vote
for ceasing Mr. Gudkov’s mandate,” he said, adding the vote was
likely to be held on Friday.
Though much reduced, the United Russia’s 13-seat majority is
still enough to vote out Gudkov.
Ejecting Gudkov would strip him of immunity from
prosecution. Federal investigators have said there is evidence
he conducted illegal business activity, and he could face two
years in jail if tried and convicted.
Putin’s opponents say the campaign against Gudkov is part of
a clampdown on dissent following the longtime leader’s election
to a six-year presidential term after four years as prime
minister.
Putin has signed laws aimed at restricting street protests,
punishing slander and branding foreign-funded NGOs as foreign
“agents”, and protest leader Alexei Navalny has been charged
with a financial crime carrying a prison term of up to 10 years.
