23:30, 13 February 2013

Konstantin Shirshov, State Duma MP from Krasnodar Territory, deprived of immunity

Today, the sitting of the Russian State Duma has deprived Konstantin Shirshov, an MP from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) of the Krasnodar Territory, of his parliamentary immunity, as he is suspected of attempted fraud with the sale of the Duma mandate for 7.5 million euros.

Earlier Shirshov had submitted an application of voluntary withdrawal of his parliamentary immunity and asked to consider the issue at today's sitting of the State Duma without discussion.

During the sitting, 371 MPs voted "for", three – "against", and two abstained from voting, the "Forbes" writes.

The involvement of Konstantin Shirshov to trading the Duma mandate is confirmed by the collected materials; and the investigation has sufficient evidence to bring him to criminal liability, the RIA "Novosti" quotes Alexander Buksman, the First Deputy Prosecutor General, as saying at the sitting.

Speaking briefly, Konstantin Shirshov said he did not consider himself guilty, the "Interfax" reports.