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State Duma strips A Just Russia deputy Gudkov of mandate

Some 291 deputies voted for this decision, 150 deputies voted against it and three deputies abstained

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, September 14 (Itar-Tass) — The State Duma stripped deputy chairman of the A Just Russia faction Gennady Gudkov of deputy mandate on Friday.

Some 291 deputies voted for this decision, 150 deputies voted against it and three deputies abstained. The voting was held behind closed doors.

Gudkov’s deputy powers are terminated as of September 14, State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin explained.

On September 10, scrutinizing the materials of the Investigation Committee about Gudkov’s business activities, the State Duma Committee for control over reliability of information about incomes and property of deputies, which United Russia deputy Vladimir Vasilyev heads, decided “to agree that there is enough evidence in the produced materials that deputy Gennady Gudkov violated the restrictions and bans, which the federal law on the status of a member of the Federation Council and a deputy of the State Duma envisages. Over this fact the committee ruled that there are all the reasons for terminating Gudkov’s deputy powers. The materials of the committee were submitted to State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin.

According to a version of the Investigation Committee, Gennady Gudkov founded and ruled several commercial structures, particularly the English Village Company, which deals with real estate in Bulgaria, and bought a stake of the marketplace Kolomensky Builder in 2008. Meanwhile, according to the Investigation Committee, Gudkov manages the limited liability company Roshan.

Gudkov denies all accusations against him. In the comments to the journalists he repeatedly linked the situation over him with his political activities, including the participation in the protest actions.

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