Russian President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 22 signed a bill granting lifetime judicial immunity to former presidents.
Under the bill, which was published online the same day, former presidents and their families enjoy immunity from prosecution for crimes committed during their lifetime. They will also be immune from being questioned by police or investigators and may not be searched or arrested. The bill is reportedly part of an amendment to the Russian Constitution that was passed this summer. The amendment allows Putin, now 68, to remain president of Russia until 2036.
Before the bill, which Putin signed into law Tuesday, former Russian presidents enjoyed immunity from prosecution only for crimes committed while in office, according to the British newspaper The Guardian. Now, a former president can still be stripped of his immunity if he is accused of treason or other serious crimes and the charges are confirmed by the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.
But legislation signed by Putin on Tuesday would additionally grant the former president a lifetime seat on the Federation Council or Senate, a position that guarantees immunity from prosecution after leaving the presidency. The pending bills sparked rumors last month that the longtime Russian leader was planning to step down because of his ill health, a claim the Kremlin later denied.
In addition, the Russian State Duma on Tuesday passed legislation mandating that information on employees of Russia’s judicial system, law enforcement and regulatory and military agencies be kept secret. The bill now requires Putin’s signature to become law. It comes a day after Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said he called an alleged agent of the authorities and tricked him into admitting that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) had tried to kill him with a poison agent in August.
Navalny said he obtained the agent’s phone number from leaked logs and travel records. The agent’s address and phone number were subsequently released, and the acts would become illegal under newly proposed legislation.
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