16 June 2004 02:34
Russian ombudsman criticizes law on referendum
MOSCOW. June 16 (Interfax) - Russian human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin has criticized the law on referendums
passed by the State Duma.
"There is a boundary between the constitutional right to a referendum and grounds for holding it. Under this
version of the law, referendums are fairly complicated and are conducted in many stages," Lukin told a news
conference in Moscow on Wednesday.
Lukin said he had submitted his remarks at the time the bill was going through its first hearing, but they were never
heeded.
In addition, Lukin said he personally "is not a big fan of referendums." "There are elements of
demagogy in referendums and I do not favor the idea of holding referendums every month," he said. [RU EEU EUROPE
ASIA EMRG POL] av tj
[Interfax] |
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