RFE
23 May 2020, 23:45 GMT+10
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a new measure that allows elections at all levels and referendums to be conducted by mail and via the Internet, according to the Kremlin's website.
The law was rushed through all three readings in the State Duma on May 13 and approved by the Federation Council, the upper house of the legislature, one week later.
Although the bill was introduced by lawmakers from the ruling United Russia party, media reports have asserted that it was drafted by the presidential administration.
The new law will not apply to the planned national vote on proposed constitutional amendments -- including a provision that would allow Putin to seek two more terms as president. That vote was set for April 22, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The new law allows the Central Election Commission to organize voting by mail or via the Internet. Lawmakers said the bill was necessary because of the restrictions on public gatherings imposed to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Under the new law, the gathering of signatures needed to qualify for elections can be conducted through a special government website.
Putin also signed a law that would bar people convicted of 'moderate' crimes from seeking public office for a period of five years after their sentence is completed. Previously, only those with 'serious' felony convictions were barred.
The new law would block anyone convicted under a law criminalizing multiple violations of the laws on public protests or of making public calls for 'extremism.'
With reporting by Meduza
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationDETROIT, Michigan: The FBI has arrested a 19-year-old man from Michigan, Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, for allegedly planning a mass...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Parts of the U.S. and Canada may not have enough electricity this summer if hot weather causes more people to use...
DOHA, Qatar: President Donald Trump has floated the idea of a new twin-engine warplane, potentially called the F-55, along with a significant...
WASHINGTON, DC - A coalition of 29 U.S. senators, spanning both parties, introduced a resolution on Thursday calling on the Trump administration...
For decades, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been vital in combating HIV across the Asia–Pacific region, where...
MIAMI, Florida: Ken Griffin, the CEO of Citadel and a billionaire investor announced this week he would loan his rare first-edition...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Sweden plans to propose that the European Union join the Pacific Rim trading bloc, the CPTPP, aiming to create the...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Ford is set to release a software update within the next two weeks for 2,850 Irish owners of Kuga plug-in hybrid vehicles...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland has the lowest availability rate for new cancer medicines in Western Europe, with patients waiting nearly...
WARSAW, Poland: Poland has ordered Russia to shut down its consulate in Krakow following allegations that Moscow was involved in a...
SHENZHEN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Experts lauded China's role in promoting global economic growth and multilateralism at a global finance...
Taipei [Taiwan], May 19 (ANI): In a firm act of resistance against political pressure from China, Czech publisher Mi:Lu Publishing...