[ad_1]
The bill also provides clues as to what Putin intends to do in 2024.
The immunity from prosecution of former Russian presidents could be extended to all crimes committed during their lifetime, not just during their mandate, under a bill presented to Parliament on Thursday.
The bill, posted on a government website, is one of many introduced as a result of constitutional reforms that, among other things, allow President Vladimir Putin to return to office when his term expires in 2024.
The bill is carefully scanned for clues as to what Putin, who has dominated Russian politics for more than two decades, intends to do in 2024.
Former presidents already enjoy life-long immunity for crimes committed in office under legislation adopted after Russia’s first post-Soviet president, Boris Yeltsin, handed the reins of power to Putin at the turn of the century.
The new bill would also make it more difficult to lift the extended immunity of former presidents.
It would be necessary for the upper house of parliament to vote overwhelmingly to revoke it on the basis of lower house allegations that the president had committed treason or another serious crime.
The bill will become law if the lower house votes to approve it in three readings, the upper house supports it and Putin signs it.
.
[ad_2]
Source link
