A bill correcting the ban on elections was adopted in the first reading

December 13, 2013 adopted in the first reading a bill softening the ban on being elected to government bodies for citizens, convicted of grave and especially grave crimes. This will also apply to those convicted of " crimes of an extremist nature."

December 13, 2013 The State Duma adopted the bill in the first reading No. 368581-6 “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Basic guarantees of electoral rights and the right to participate in a referendum of citizens Russian Federation" (on the issue of restricting the electoral rights of some categories of citizens of the Russian Federation).

The bill was introduced on October 24, 2013 a group of deputies headed by the Chairman of the Committee on the Constitutional legislation by Vladimir Pligin. According to this document, participation in elections as candidates of citizens convicted of committing serious crimes is not allowed for 10, and especially serious crimes - for 15 years from the date of removal and repayment of a criminal record.

Thus, it is supposed to correct the situation, established after the adoption on April 2, 2013 of the amendment to Law No. 67-FZ "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in a Referendum citizens of the Russian Federation", according to which the ban on passive suffrage for these categories of citizens was for life. The Constitutional Court pointed out the inadmissibility of this situation.

We believe the restrictions introduced by the amendment are reasonable. that on the same day However, it should be noted on first reading a bill translating part non-violent "extremist" crimes in the category of serious. This will mean a lengthening of the period of defeat in the passive suffrage for those convicted under these articles. What with the existing state of application of anti-extremist legislation is a concern; in particular, the authorities have an additional opportunity to provide influence on the electoral process.

Recall that on October 29, 2013, LDPR deputy Sergei Ivanov submitted a similar bill to the Duma , canceling the ban on being elected to government bodies for citizens convicted of including for "extremist" crimes.

Sources

• Draft Law No. 368581-6 On Amendments to the Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in a Referendum of Citizens of the Russian Federation" (on the issue of restricting the voting rights of certain categories of citizens of the Russian Federation) // Website of the State Duma of the Russian Federation. 2013.