PORKOVSKOYE, Moscow Region, , October 27 (Itar-Tass) — Ex-MP Gennady Gudkov said he would leave Just Russia only if the majority of a party congress delegates disagree with his position.
The statement came as a response to his criticism by Just Russia leader Nikolai Levichev at the party’s conference on Saturday.
“I think we should hold a congress. If a congress says that such activities [participation in opposition street protests] are unacceptable and inadmissible, I will have no choice but leave the party,” Gudkov said.
He suggested holding a party congress in March or April 2013.
Having heard the gist of Gudkov’s statement as retold by journalists, Levichev advised him to “read the party charter”. “A congress elects and re-elects the party chairman and members of the Presidium. But questions of expulsion can be solved in other ways, not necessarily by a congress,” he said.
According to the party charter, this can be done by the Central Council, Presidium or the Presidium Bureau, or a party conference, as well as the councils of regional branches or their bureaus or even the governing bodies of local offices of the party.
“We have made such decisions many times. There is such a measure of party penalty for actions that discredit [as expulsion],” Levichev added, but declined to say whether this issue might be raised in the near future with regard to any of the Just Russia members.
Levichev said, however, that there no plans to hold a party congress any time soon.