MOSCOW, June 6 (Itar-Tass) — Members of the United Russia party in the State Duma lower house of parliament believe that have done a “good job” drafting a bill that sharply increases fines for violations at rallies that was adopted a few minutes before midnight. The Communists and Liberal Democrats harshly criticised the debate, and A Just Russia party members made a new demarche, leaving the hall during the voting in the third reading.
“For what has all this been done?” Communist faction member Anatoly Lokot asked during his speech on the voting motives. “This is an attempt to “prevent” protest moods. But this cannot be done this way,” he said. “They will only be growing because of this, cannot you understand?” “This bill destroys social peace and deepens the gap that has emerged in our society after the elections to the Duma and the Russian presidential election. Instead of the dialogue you have offered a fat, strong administrative club,” he added.
Sergei Ivanov (LDPR faction) said for his part that his faction “cannot understand why the long-hour debate ended with a loud applause.” “Have we defeated poverty, provided jobs to everyone, equipped the army with the latest weaponry?” he asked rhetorically.
“What has happened now, it’s probably the worst day in the history of the State Duma, at least of the three last convocations that I am here,” said the politician. “I believe that the State Duma has never had such a shame. All that we are currently discussing, it’s a phobia of United Russia, which is scared of protest moods,” Ivanov said. “Instead of punishing those who have caused these protest moods, you choose various pretexts for banning all street actions,” he concluded.
And head of the United Russia faction Andrei Vorobyov is convinced that the lawmakers have “done a good job today.” “Never before a bill has been debated so openly at various venues,” he said. “Some people feared that we would ban rallies – certainly not, we live in a democratic country, it’s an integral part of our life.” “But democracy – it’s not only the rights and opportunities, it’s also responsibility,” he emphasised.
“The only its purpose is to establish a civilised order here. If some persons take the liberty of jeopardising our stability, they will not be able to escape punishment,” the house vice speaker said. He also expressed gratitude to head of the house relevant committee Vladimir Pligin for his “firmness and integrity.”
“You ought to be ashamed when the procedure and common sense are tramped upon at the State Duma and there is absolute disrespect for our people. It's a spit towards our people ahead of Day of Russia,” head of A Just Russia faction Sergei Mironov told United Russia members.
“Your easy and free manipulation of the parliament procedure is amazing. You’ve hurt very many citizens of our country today. Tomorrow is A.S. Pushkin’s birthday. At one point he was sorry not to have been together with the Decembrists in Senate Square, and today, he would have been with the people, not with you,” he said.
“Learn parliamentary culture,” Mironov said addressing United Russia. “A Just Russia faction is leaving the session hall in protest.”
Now the law will be submitted to the Federation Council upper house, which should consider it on Wednesday. If approved, the law will be submitted to the president for signature, after which it will be officially published. Most of its provisions shall come into force from this point, but a number of provisions (for example, the introduction of a new type of administrative punishment - compulsory community service) - from January 1, 2013.