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A Just Russia demands its members should quit the off-system opposition

The party members were recommended not to participate any longer in the protest actions, which other political forces staged

The Presidium Bureau of the A Just Russia Central Council have made an ultimatum to Gennady and Dmitry Gudkov, Oleg Shein and Ilya Ponomarev at its meeting on Thursday. The presidium bureau demanded whether they quit the off-system opposition and refuse from participation in its actions or hand in their party membership certificates. Only Oleg Shein decided to obey to the party discipline so far.

The A Just Russia members, who were found involved in the cooperation with the off-system opposition, were given a month for thinking over the ultimatum, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily reported. A Just Russia referred to the decision of the presidium bureau, which condemned the participation of the Gudkovs and Ponomarev in the March against Scoundrels on Monday evening. The latter “were marching in the head of the column with the slogans insulting their colleagues,” the press service said in an official statement. The accused party members were banned to have any contacts with the off-system opposition at all. It is noteworthy that even Oleg Shein was disciplined in the heat of the moment, though he did not participate in the March against Scoundrels, but he is well-known to the broad public for a hunger strike in protest against the rigging of the Astrakhan mayoral election results. The party members were recommended not to participate any longer in the protest actions, which other political forces staged.

The response to the ultimatum has already followed. Ponomarev noted that he “will be fighting,” Gudkov the Sr. decided that this issue can be put up for general debates in the party, the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily noted. In retaliation Gudkov the Jr. blamed the party for the negligence of the pre-election slogans and pledges, but he is ready to hand in his party membership certificate in order to keep a certificate of a member of the Opposition Coordination Council. Meanwhile, Oleg Shein already stated that he will quit the election body of the off-system opposition. It was reported a little bit later that Ilya Ponomarev has determined the most important values for him. As it could be expected he has made the choice in favour of a mandate of the State Duma deputy, but not the Left Front, which his party fellows asked him to leave.