Vladimir Ryzhkov (standing) and Vladimir Lysenko are determined to carry on the struggle for their party in Strasbourg.
Photo: Dmitry Lekay
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Democrats Left without Republicans
// The Supreme Court liquidated Vladimir Ryzhkov’s party
Russian Supreme Court ruled on Friday to liquidate the Republican Party of Russia (RPR), satisfying the claim of the Federal Registration Service. The party’s co-chairman, State Duma deputy Vladimir Ryzhkov, called the court’s ruling political, and does not hope for justice in Russia anymore. RPR members hope that the European Court of Human Rights will examine their case even before the Duma elections.
The Federal Registration Service of Russia demanded to liquidate the Republican Party of Russia (RPR) for violating the law “About political parties”, according to which a party should have no less than 50,000 members and at least 45 regional branches consisting of over 500 members. Registration officials found only 39,500 members and 33 branches of over 500 members in RPR.
The party’s co-chairman Vladimir Ryzhkov said that RPR, “aware of the bias against the party”, submitted a full list of the party’s members of 60,000 people confirmed by their applications, and the documents for 54 branches of over 500 members to the Registration Service.
Yet, the Supreme Court ruled to liquidate the party, obliging it to pay a state duty of 2,000 roubles. Thus, RPR became the sixth party to be closed down by the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Ryzhkov said “the ruling is biased and might be politically-motivated”. “We do not accept the numbers given by the Registration Service. We will appeal against the ruling to the cassation collegium,” he said. However, the deputy does not doubt that its ruling will not be in favor of RPR as well. Thus, the party is determined to seek justice in Strasbourg. “We might have our case examined in time for the State Duma elections,” hopes Ryzhkov.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 24, 2007
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