Doc. 9596

14 October 2002

Violation of the rights of the citizens, restriction of freedom and democracy in Russia in connection with the change of the law on referendums in the Russian Federation

Motion for an order

presented by Mr Ziuganov and others

The constitutional law on referendums in the Russian Federation has been urgently changed. It has been done in serious violation of the Constitution and parliamentary rules of procedure, in an atmosphere of unprecedented pressure on the deputies by the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.

The new additional restrictions on holding referendums in Russia were introduced, forbidding referendums during the next half a year i.e. one year before presidential and one year prior to parliamentary elections. This law basically makes it possible to completely ban referendums in Russia.

The Assembly decides to put the issue of restriction of the rights and freedom of the citizens of Russia in connection with change of the Constitutional Law on referendums in the Russian Federation on its agenda and charges and its monitoring Committee to examine the question.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Ziuganov, Russia, UEL

Bakulin, Russia, UEL

Chaklein, Russia, UEL

Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL

Čurdová, Czech Republic, SOC

Einarsson, Sweden, UEL

Gamzatova, Russie, GUE

Gostev, Russia, UEL

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Manukian, Armenia, UEL

Maštálka, Czech Republic, UEL

Melčák, Czech Republic, SOC

Melnikov, Russia, UEL

Neguta, Moldova, GUE

Oliynyk, Ukraine, UEL

Rakhansky, Ukraine, GUE

Ransdorf, Czech Republic, UEL

Soendergaard, Denmark, UEL

Zetterberg, Sweden, UEL

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group