The first deputy head of the LDPR faction in the State Duma and former candidate for Moscow mayor Vladimir Ovsyannikov has decided to hand over his deputy mandate early, said the leader of the "A Just Russia" faction Sergei Mironov. "Today, I was surprised to hear at the Duma council a statement from LDPR deputy Ovsyannikov about his voluntary resignation as a State Duma deputy," Mironov said at a briefing.

According to him, at the Duma Council meeting it was proposed to include the issue of early termination of Ovsyannikov's powers on Tuesday's agenda. As a result, the issue was included on the agenda. "You remember the strange story when he was first announced as a candidate for mayor (of Moscow), and then suddenly young Degtyarev appeared. And Ovsyannikov disappeared, and it seems he is disappearing from the LDPR faction for good. But I will not speculate here. But these things are connected, I think," Mironov said.

As a member of the LDPR faction told Interfax, the faction leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky informed his colleagues about the situation related to the early termination of Ovsyannikov's parliamentary powers. "Vladimir Volfovich reported that this decision was made at his request - Ovsyannikov will focus on work in the party apparatus, since there is a big election campaign ahead," the deputy explained to the agency.

The LDPR has not yet said who might receive Ovsyannikov's mandate. The head of the LDPR Supreme Council, State Duma Vice Speaker Igor Lebedev confirmed that Ovsyannikov is handing over his mandate early "at his own request."

Last week it became known that State Duma deputy Mikhail Degtyarev, not Ovsyannikov, would run for Moscow mayor from the LDPR. The decision to nominate Degtyarev was due to Ovsyannikov's poor health, State Duma vice speaker Igor Lebedev said at the time.

First Deputy Head of the LDPR Faction in the State Duma Gives Up His Mandate Early