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RUSSIAN FEDERATION WILL PROHIBIT EXTREMISTS AND TERRORISTS FROM PARTICIPATING IN ELECTIONS
The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted in the second reading a bill prohibiting extremists and terrorists from participating in elections on the territory of Russia. In accordance with the bill, leaders and all those involved in the activities of organizations recognized by the court as extremist or terrorist are deprived of their passive electoral right.
Following the results of the second reading, this ban will apply not only to elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, but also to participation in election campaigns in Russia.
The bill provides for the following types of citizens' involvement in participation in the activities of extremist and terrorist organizations:
- leadership of an extremist or terrorist organization (founder, head, deputy head);
- work, membership in an organization, participation in the activities of such an organization, that is, the direct implementation of the goals and forms of activity (individual events), in connection with which the organization is recognized as terrorist or extremist;
- the expression of support for the activities or individual events of such an organization, for example, the expression of support for such organizations (or their individual events) with statements, including on the Internet, the provision of funds, property, organizational, methodological, advisory or other assistance.
The bill provides that the term of restriction on participation in elections for the leaders of extremist and terrorist organizations is five years from the date of entry into force of the court decision on the liquidation or prohibition of the activities of such an organization, for members and employees of the organization - three years
The timing of the adoption of the bill is striking. The bill was submitted to the State Duma of Russia on May 4, 2021. On May 17, the bill was conceptually adopted in the first reading. On May 24, 2021, the bill passed the second final reading.
At the same time, there were no conceptual or significant legal or corruption comments on the bill under consideration.
On May 25, 20121 the bill was prepared for submission to the Federation Council for approval and submission to the President of the Russian Federation for signing.
Most likely, the new amendments to the electoral legislation will come into force before the start of the election campaign for the election of deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
It is obvious that such a legislative initiative is aimed at preventing the election of persons who have participated in the activities of the Anti-Corruption Fundation, recognized as a foreign agent in Russia.
At present, court proceedings are underway to recognize the Anti-Corruption Foundation as an extremist organization.