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Deputy Ilya Ponomaryov put an end to his political career in Russia - Mironov

Ponomaryov voted against ratification of the Treaty of reunification of Crimea with Russia

MOSCOW, March 23, /ITAR-TASS/. Sergei Mironov, the leader of A Just Russia party, said on Saturday that deputy Ilya Ponomaryov, a member of the party’s Duma faction, put an end to any political career in Russia when he voted against ratification of the Treaty of reunification of Crimea with Russia.

“He is our faction member. Unfortunately, we do not have an imperative mandate (the party’s right to independently deprive a deputy of his mandate - note Itar-Tass), “Mironov told the “Vesti v Subbotu” (News on Saturday) TV programme with host Sergei Brilyov on Russia 1 channel.

He added that though he could not understand Ilya’s motives, he was sure that Ponomaryov’s political career in Russia was over.

“He has put any political career in Russia to rest. But if he wants to emigrate to the United States, let him go there good riddance,” Mironov stressed.

Ilya Ponomaryov was the only State Duma deputy to vote against the ratification of the Treaty of reunification of Crimea with Russia and the creation of two new constituent entities - the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, the city of federal significance. Ponomaryov said that he considered both documents to be “a big political mistake.”

The LDPR faction has called for stripping Ponomaryov of his deputy mandate.

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