MOSCOW, August 22 (Itar-Tass) - United Russia activist, member of the All Russia People's Front Alexei Zhuravlyov drew a bill banning government bodies from purchasing cars that cost over one million rubles, the newspaper Izvestia reported on Thursday. According to Zhuravlyov, he has already collected 146,000 signatures in support of his initiative.
"You can buy a decent car for one million rubles. State Duma deputies have such cars, whereas district heads take the liberty to drive far more expensive ones," he told the newspaper.
He noted that the officials would not be banned from driving deluxe cars if these cars were purchased with their own money and are used off duty."
Lawmaker Valery Trapeznikov /United Russia faction in the Russian parliament/ supported his colleague. "We must save budget money. I believe that all the officials, except the president and the prime minister, should have cars assembled in our country. For example, Toyota Camry is assembled in this country; it costs 900,000 rubles," Trapeznikov said.
For his part, first deputy head of the United Russia faction Vyacheslav Timchenko noted that "when purchasing cars, one should take into account the opportunities of the region and municipalities."
"Sometimes, we have to purchase expensive cars, such as jeeps. You need a crossover to travel around in the Kirov region which I represent," Timchenko said.