Press Release, 19.10.2017

Deputies of the Legislative Assembly of Karelia rejected Yabloko’s bill restricting Vladimir Putin’s right to use Russian armed forces abroad. The bill was submitted by Emilia Slabunova, MP and Yabloko Chair.

According to the Russian law, if the Legislative Assembly had approved initiative set forth by Emilia Slabunova, the bill would have been submitted to the State Duma for consideration.

Four deputies voted for the bill and 21 against it. On 10 October, the bill was considered by the Committee on the Rule of Law and Order, and was rejected by a majority vote.

“However, deputies complained at the meeting today about the shortage of money in the local budget, lamented the lack of funds for the solution of the most acute regional problems,” Emilia Slabunova said. “At the same time, they do not want to connect this with the fact that huge resources of the state are being spent on the Syrian operation: almost seven annual budgets of Karelia.”

Deputies demonstrate their full loyalty to the authorities to the detriment of the interests of the residents, whom they must represent and protect, Slabunova noted.

The bill set the terms for the use of armed forces outside of Russia. According to Yabloko, it should have been the upper of the Russian parliament – the Federation Council – which should have the right to extend the authorisation for the use (including operational) of the army after the expiration of specific timeframes.

According to the Russian Constitution, the decision to use armed forces outside the territory of Russia belongs to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federation Council. However, the upper house of parliament issued two resolutions voluntarily renouncing its constitutional right and transferring it to the President of Russia. In 2006, the Federation Council authorised the head of state to use the army and special forces outside Russia in order to suppress international terrorist activities against Russia and Russian citizens. In 2009, the President received the right to decide on the operational use of the army abroad.

Yabloko believes that the powers that the President received are “too broad”, and this “breaks the balance between the branches of power.” Therefore, the party proposed to supplement the law “On Defense” with a new article that will limit the period of use of armed forces outside the country by one year, and the term of operational use by sixty days. If the terms need to be extended, the President will again have to apply to the Federation Council.

Yabloko submitted the bill to all the Legislative Assemblies where the party is represented. Members of Yabloko’s Federal Political Committee Mikhail Amosov, Boris Vishnevsky and Lev Shlosberg introduced the bill to the parliaments of St. Petersburg and the Pskov region respectively. The dates of consideration of the bill by these parliaments are yet unknown.

If any Legislative Assembly approves of the bill, it draft law will be submitted to the Russian parliament for consideration.