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Duma to consider possible revoking of Communist MP’s immunity

Bessonov said he did not beat anyone and he hopes the outcome of voting will be favorable for him

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, July 6 (Itar-Tass) – Russia’s State Duma is expected to consider a petition filed by Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika, who has asked the lower house of parliament to revoke the parliamentary immunity of the Communist MP Vladimir Bessonov so as to get an opportunity to institute a criminal case against him.

Bessonov reportedly acted as a mastermind an unauthorized public action in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don December 2, 2011, in front of the office of the Russian President’s plenipotentiary representative in the Southern Federal District. In the course of the action, he ostensibly put up a fistfight with policemen.

A committee of the Duma in charge of handling such situations has issued recommendation to the Duma to entertain the Prosecutor General’s request and to strip Bessonov of immunity and the parliamentary majority, which consists of the United Russia party faction and the Liberal Democrats /LDPR/ faction, is ready to support the motion.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation /CPRF/ and A Just Russia party factions will vote against it, and the Communists have warned they will walk out of the house in protest of the voting.

Bessonov said he did not beat anyone and he hopes the outcome of voting will be favorable for him. “There’s a hope that if the Duma votes by secret ballot, the Prosecutor General’s demand will not get the necessary 226 votes,” he told Itar-Tass, adding that no convincing evidence of his guilt has ever been provided.

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