Kaliningrad election commission confirms Yakunin’s rank as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary

Map of Baltics and Environs, Including Kaliningrad

KALININGRAD. Aug 20 (Interfax) – It has been confirmed that Russian Railways (MOEX: RZHD) chief Vladimir Yakunin has the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Kaliningrad regional election commission chief Inessa Vinyavskaya wrote on her Facebook page.

“In reply to the commission’s query as part of the verification of the information on V. I. Yakunin, the Russian Presidential Administration has confirmed that he has the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary,” she wrote.

By law, a senate candidate from a particular region should have resided in the region for at least the last five years, or at least 20 years in total. A candidate who has the diplomatic rank of Ambassador can run for senate as well.

It was reported that Tsukanov, who is campaigning to become the region’s governor, has nominated Yakunin as the region’s candidate for the Federation Council.

The regional election commission registered Yakunin as a senate candidate on the basis of the documentation filed by acting governor Tsukanov. Currently, the election commission is verifying the submitted documentation. There is no time limit on how long this verification process can take.

It was believed that Yakunin, who has never lived in the region, could become a senator in one of two cases: if he has the rank of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, or if he gets into the Federation Council under the so-called ‘presidential quota’.

 

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