12.02.2020, Moscow.
The amendment proposed by the leader of the Essence of Time social political movement Sergey Kurginyan will strengthen the country’s territorial integrity, said Federation Council Member Frants Klintsevich, the Rossa Primavera News Agency reports on February 11.
According to the senator, “this is a constitutional norm, and Kurginyan has not said anything extraordinary.” At the same time, Klintsevich noted that “the historic events of 1930s and 1950s, when our territory was changing and splitting,” resulted in a variety of problems, which can only be resolved with a thorough approach, including consideration of the social and economic situation.
In this historical context, the senator believes, “Kurginyan is right when he says that these processes of strengthening our territory must take place.” Klintsevich reminded that upon approval the proposed amendments will be put to a referendum for the public to make the final decision.
On February 11, the leader of the Essence of Time social political movement Sergey Kurginyan addressed the State Duma Working Group with a proposal of an amendment to the Constitution, according to which the country’s territory can only be changed upon a nation-wide referendum.
Background
On January 15, 2020, the Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of the necessity to introduce several essential amendments to the Russian Constitution in his Address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The Presidential Administration promptly prepared a bill on amendments to the supreme law of the land.
On the same day, a working group was created to work through the presidential proposals regarding the amendments to the Russian Constitution, as well as at amendments to be proposed by the public.
On February 11, the leader of the Essence of Time movement Sergey Kurginyan submitted an amendment, which proposes to supplement the Article 4 of the Constitution with the following clause, “The territory of the Russian Federation cannot be changed without the will of the people expressed through a referendum,” to the co-chairman of the working group Pavel Krasheninnikov.
This provision should complement the sovereignty of Russia, the integrity and inviolability of its territory, as proclaimed in the Constitution.
As of now, according to the Article 137, changes to the structure of the Russian Federation may be implemented through the adoption by the Parliament of a special federal constitutional law.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
