Pekhtin sues Navalny

Former deputy Vladimir Pekhtin may return to the State Duma. He announced this at a press conference.

“I do not rule out such a moment—a return to the State Duma—and by law I have the right to do so,” Pekhtin said on Friday, April 26. Pekhtin believes that he did not break the law and did not buy the foreign apartment that was attributed to him. “I have to go to court, and I will do it, to protect my name, my honor and my dignity,” Pekhtin said. “I will file a claim against Mr. Navalny (...) Initially, I didn’t have such a thought (demanding monetary compensation), but you pushed me towards this with your question. Perhaps I’ll show Mr. Navalny’s annual income,” Pekhtin said. The money that Pekhtin expects to receive from Navalny after the trial will be transferred to the children. “I will send this money to Magadan. There are several orphanages there, let the children use this money,” Pekhtin added.

Today, the head of the United Russia faction, Vladimir Vasiliev, answered the question whether Pekhtin could return to the State Duma. “We have already watched everything, listened, if he wants, he will return. But he has already left for another job, left to work in his profession. And, as far as I understand, he considers himself insulted and is unlikely to want to return,” Vasiliev said.

United Russia deputy Vladimir Pekhtin was the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Ethics. He left after information appeared on the Internet that the deputy owns real estate in Miami (USA), which he did not include in his income declaration. Alexey Navalny filed a complaint against Pekhtin. According to his estimate, the total value of Pekhtin’s American property is $2.5 million.

On February 20, Pekhtin announced that he voluntarily renounced his mandate . In early April, Pekhtin joined the board of directors of JSC RusHydro and was introduced to his colleagues.

Interfax