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UR member Vladimir Pekhtin vacates MP seat

Earlier, Pekhtin was accused by bloggers of possession of real estate in the United States, which was not declared by him

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, February 20 (Itar-Tass) – Member of the United Russia party Vladimir Pekhtin has decided to step down as member of the State Duma lower house of parliament.

“I’ve made an uneasy decision to step down as State Duma member. I surrender my mandate, I do not cling to it,” he said from the Duma rostrum on Wednesday. “I do not want a shadow of unfounded accusations to fall on our party,” the lawmaker added.

Earlier, Pekhtin, who headed the parliamentary commission on ethics, was accused by bloggers of possession of real estate in the United States, which was not declared by him. The parliamentarian has denied the accusations, but for the time of the check suspended his chairmanship of the commission.

“Thank you very much for an honest act,” Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin said.

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