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Former Russian Railways chief refuses to become lawmaker

SOCHI, September 15 /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin have met Vladimir Yakunin, the former head of the Russian Railways Company (RZHD), several times over the past few weeks, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

Peskov told journalists, however, he did not know if they had discussed Yakunin’s refusal to become a lawmaker and represent Russia’s Kaliningrad region in the Russian Federation Council (parliament’s upper house).

Peskov hesitated to give any answer when asked if Yakunin had discussed his intention to give up the senatorial chair.

"I am not ready to answer (your question) because I have not asked the president about that. But they have had contacts in the past few weeks," Peskov said without clarifying if it had been a conversation or a personal meeting.

Earlier on Tuesday, Yakunin refused to represent Russia’s Kaliningrad region in the Federation Council.

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