The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted in the second and third reading the amendments to the Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in the Referendum of Citizens of the Russian Federation” and a number of other federal laws that establish a ban for foreign agents to participate in the elections of all levels.
According to the State Duma press service on Monday, May 6, in accordance with the law, by the time of transfer of documents necessary for registration, the candidate must stop the status of a foreign agent.
The norm will be relevant for elections to the federal bodies of state consent, regions authorities, public authorities of the federal territory and local governments.
The foreign agents will also not be able to be authorized by representatives of candidates and electoral associations, it follows from the amendments.
The Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, during the discussion of the law, emphasized that he was “very humane.”
He noted that “even today, ten foreign agents are deputies of different levels. At the same time, they are not deprived of automatically authority, but give 180 days to get out of this status”.
“The basis for making a decision on recognizing a person by a foreign agent is to receive money from the line, – Vyacheslav Volodin emphasized.” Either be citizens of your country, work in the interests of your country, or cannot represent residents in the authorities “. /p>
According to him, “one who is already recognized by a foreign agent will not be able to participate in the elections, but he has a chance to get out of this status within the framework of the relevant procedure, stop receiving money for his activities because of the line, and please – Participate in the elections “.
“We are doing everything in order to protect our country. And the one who receives money abroad and wants to be elected to the authorities, must refuse them, think that he is doing wrong,” concluded the chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.