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Regions pin hope on Duma bill on regional holidays

Article 112 of the Labour Code stipulates that territories of the Russian Federation are entitled to establish their own holidays in addition to the federal holidays

MOSCOW, September 26 (Itar-Tass) —— The State Duma is to open hearings on a new bill submitted to the Lower House on Monday which authorizes regions to establish their own holidays that depend on their own traditions in addition to public holidays celebrated in Russia nationwide, a source from the Duma apparatus said on Monday.

The authors of the new bill are Pavel Krasheninnikov, who heads the Duma committee for legislation, and First Duma Vice-speaker Oleg Morozov, both from the United Russia party. The republics with a big number of the Muslim population are entitled to Muslim holidays as envisaged by the laws of the Russian Federation, Krasheninnikov told Itar-Tass. "We believe that appointing additional holidays is possible because our Labor Code applies both to Russia center and regions. Besides, a law on freedom of conscious and religious organizations confirms that, Krashennikov noted.

"Article 112 of the Labour Code stipulates that territories of the Russian Federation are entitled to establish their own holidays in addition to the federal holidays. Regions should decide on their own which holidays they should celebrate," Krasheninnikov explained.

A few days ago the Supreme Csurt ruled illegitimate a corresponding bill which established more holidays in Bashkortostan. Bashkortostan regional head Rustam Khamitov intends to lodge a complaint and send a corresponding letter to the Russian Supreme Court and make the necessary proposals to the Constitutional Court so as to revise the decision.

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