Medvedev: Duma disbandment would be ‘very dangerous’

(Interfax – MOSCOW. July 15, 2013) Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has rejected suggestions for dissolving the State Duma, arguing that disbanding Russia’s lower house of parliament would be “very dangerous for our country.”

“A legitimately elected body of government must remain in rule for exactly the period that is set for this. The opposite is very dangerous for our country,” Medvedev said during a meeting with Duma deputies representing United Russia, the party of which Medvedev is leader.

In opening the meeting, Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin had said some activists had been collecting signatures under a petition to disband parliament. Naryshkin said the petition reflected “political delusions to the effect that communications could replace parliament.” “How else can one assess the collection of signatures for dissolution?” he said.

He promised that the current Duma would sit out its term, which expires in autumn 2016.