On Monday, April 1, a representative of the State Duma did not attend a Supreme Court session where former deputy Vasily Vlasov appealed a ruling that removed him from parliament. The disclosure came from a former LDPR deputy speaking to socialbites.ca. The meeting is set to resume once Vlasov’s team has access to the needed documents. The former MP insists the move to strip him of his deputy mandate was unlawful.
“The defendant is the State Duma of the Russian Federation. There is a specially authorized person who represents the Duma’s interests, including before the Supreme Court. The State Duma did not come forward for consideration and believes this issue can be examined without its direct involvement. They offered feedback, but only in the hall. So, the meeting will take place on April 3. I keep fighting because I am confident I am 100% right. I am the only deputy in Russian parliamentary history to be dismissed without a criminal case. While criminal cases have been opened against others, I am the sole person removed from the Duma on an official basis, not due to a criminal charge. The most striking point is their reply to my request: “We do not care if you attended 97% of the meetings. We are not interested in your presidential certificates. We have a commission that handles regulation and Duma activities.” It felt almost like kindergarten, Vlasov commented.
He argues that the State Duma’s side is trying to obscure his participation in meetings and votes on the agenda. He claims that data on votes where he participated disappeared from the website of the State Duma Commission for Regulation and Support.
“I believe we have strong evidence showing that meetings are still held by many committees, with polls and absentee ballots. The Regulatory Commission, the key body, decided that voting should be by mail rather than through WhatsApp in the main chat. Another noteworthy point: all documents for 2022-2023 were removed from the commission’s site. It’s as if they are guarding all evidence of my innocence privately. I have always believed that the State Duma, as a legislative body, would be as open as possible, especially regarding documents. Now the decisions appear to cover only 2024; just a month and a half ago they included 2022 and 2023, showing which issues were discussed and on which I voted and participated. This hints that the State Duma does not intend to fully prove my case, he concluded.
Vlasov, a former State Duma deputy, filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court seeking reinstatement as a member of parliament. The suit argues that for seven years he fulfilled his duties diligently and attended plenary sessions regularly. The petition includes quotes from his substantial body of work. [Source: socialbites.ca]
Vlasov’s dismissal occurred in autumn 2023 after he failed to attend meetings of the regulations commission, of which he was a member. The LDPR faction, to which he belonged, refused to support him. As he noted, “According to Zhirinovsky, this did not occur.” [Source: socialbites.ca]
Vlasov was elected to the State Duma in 2016, becoming the youngest member of parliament at age 21. [Source: socialbites.ca]
Details related to Zhirinovsky’s will were previously recognized. [Source: socialbites.ca]