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United Russia lawmaker urges his colleague from A Just Russia faction Ilya Ponomaryov to step down

SK brought official charges against Ponomaryov's aide Leonid Razvozzhayev

MOSCOW, October 24 (Itar-Tass) — A lawmaker from the United Russia faction at the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament has urged his colleague from A Just Russia faction Ilya Ponomaryov to step down of his own accord, claiming that he is involved in the plans to stage mass disturbances in Russia.

"First, Ponomaryov offers the Opposition to form its own armed units, i.e. he explicitly called for extremist activity, then he participated in organizing the disturbances in Bolotnaya Square on May 6, and briefed the people who had come for the rally... and incited them explaining how to break through police cordon, and provoked clashes which eventually took place," member of United Russia's General Council Vladimir Burmatov told reporters.

For Burmatov, the last straw was the report that all this protest, including the May 6 riots, had been funded by foreign states, as well as the fact that Ponomaryov's aide Razvozzhayev had participated in the talks to stage riots not only in Moscow but also in other Russian towns.

"So if Ponomaryov wants to save face somehow, he should resign and deal with the problems he himself has created, while cooperating with the investigators as his aide Razvozzhayev has done," Burmatov said.

Also, he forwarded a request to the Investigative Committee /SK/, to evaluate Ponomaryov's participation in the talks over the plans to stage riots in Russia.

"You won't see me doing it," Ponomaryov replied, noting that in the present situation each wants to grab his share of publicity. "I'll continue to work," he told Itar-Tass.

On Tuesday, the SK brought official charges against Leonid Razvozzhayev.

"Leonid Razvozzhayev was charged within the criminal case over preparations to organize mass disturbances in the Russian territory, opened by the SK main department following a check into the facts stated in the film "Anatomy of Protest-2", under Article 30, Part 1 and Article 212, Part 1, of Russia's penal code," SK spokesman Vladimir Markin said.

Left Front coordinator Sergei Udaltsov and his lawyer Violetta Volkova are to report to the investigators on October 26. Udaltsov will be questioned as a suspect, the SK spokesman said.

The investigators will also look into the information about possible preparation in Russia of acts of terror.

"If the information is found to be authentic, a legal assessment of actions by Udaltsov and his associates, including Georgian citizens, will follow," the SK said earlier.

Udaltsov is on recognizance, and Konstantin Lebedev and Leonid Razvozzhayev are under arrest. The latter had been on the wanted list. On October 21, he informed the SK about his decision to turn himself in, according to Markin.

Markin said Razvozzhayev had given details of the plans to stage riots, that had been considered by Sergei Udaltsov and Konstantin Lebedev and other persons, and reported their involvement in the Bolotnaya Square riots in Moscow on May 6.

It follows from Razvozzhayev's statement that the riots had been funded by Givi Targamadze, the SK spokesman said, adding that the SK would carefully check Razvozzhayev's statement.