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Russia's Duma Passes Bill Restoring Gubernatorial Elections


Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (left) and Prime Minister and President-elect Vladimir Putin walk after taking part in the State Council session at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 24.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (left) and Prime Minister and President-elect Vladimir Putin walk after taking part in the State Council session at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 24.
Russia's State Duma has passed by a narrow margin a Kremlin bill restoring popular gubernatorial elections.

Outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev submitted the bill in response to widespread protests against his ally, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, ahead of the election in March that gave Putin a third term as president.

Putin had scrapped direct elections of provincial governors during his presidency, in a move seen as a rollback of democracy.

The 450-seat State Duma approved the bill on April 25 with 237 votes, just 11 votes more than the simple majority required.

The new bill envisions presidential consultations with the candidates or the parties nominating them.

Opponents say the new law still allows the president to screen out undesirable candidates.

Based on reporting by AP and RFE/RL's Russian Service

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

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