Relaxing During Holiday Breaks
The Russian State Duma has been a hive of activity this summer, with various factions and alliances proposing a range of legislative initiatives.
One of the most notable proposals came from Nina Ostanina (CPRF) and Yaroslav Nиlov (excluded from the LDPR faction), who submitted a draft law aimed at preventing underage foreigners from entering Russia without legal representatives. The exception to this rule would be for cases of study, treatment, participation in sports tournaments, and olympiads.
The LDPR, on the other hand, proposed a different approach to education, suggesting the cancellation of free education for migrant high school students and prioritising Russian children in kindergartens. This proposal was primarily driven by the government and United Russia.
In a related move, SRZP submitted a draft law on an annual payment to parents for preparing their child for school.
A group of representatives from all opposition factions proposed the expulsion of foreign citizens involved in election campaigning.
Professor Pavel Sklyanuk observed a "repetitiveness of legislative initiatives and their initiators" in the Duma, with bills starting to resemble those proposed years ago.
Sklyanuk, along with colleagues from LDPR, SRZP, and CPRF, also advocated for the legalization of artificial intelligence in election campaigning.
One of the top priorities in summer lawmaking was supporting participants in the special military operation (SVO). To this end, a group of United Russia parliamentarians introduced amendments to grant military personnel the right to free travel to and from medical examinations. The cabinet also proposed to extend the status of a combat veteran to all those who participated in the SVO.
In addition, another United Russia project, co-sponsored by several opposition deputies, would give widows of SVO participants priority admission to bachelor's and specialist degree programs.
LDPR suggested giving large families the right to priority housing under social rental agreements and allowing them to use maternity capital for personal farming. Andrei Svintcov (LDPR) also proposed to block materials containing obscene language on websites and in social networks.
Four candidates for the Accounts Chamber auditors were submitted to the president to replace those whose terms expire in the fall. However, there is no clear information indicating who proposed the law in August 2023 to introduce priority status for kindergarten places for Russian children.
Yaroslav Nиlov also proposed giving factions in the State Duma the right to exclude deputies from their ranks.
Parliamentarians continued to actively introduce bills during the recess, focusing on supporting military personnel and families, migration policy, security issues, and election rules. From September 2 to 14, deputies will work with constituents in the regions.
The official summer vacations of the deputies end on September 1.
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