Russian MP skips session in parliament and sends cardboard cut-out instead

Vladimir Petrov wanted to draw the parliament's attention to the fact that many MPs do not participate in parliamentary life opting to 'stay silent and press buttons as they are told' 

Zlata Rodionova
Thursday 23 February 2017 14:25 GMT
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The event occurred at a parliamentary meeting for the Leningrad region.
The event occurred at a parliamentary meeting for the Leningrad region.

A Russian MP has reportedly skipped a meeting in regional parliament, asking his assistant to bring a cardboard cut-out of himself instead.

According to local channel 47news, Vladimir Petrov wanted to draw his colleagues’ attention to the fact that many do not participate in parliamentary life opting to “stay silent and press buttons as they are told”.

The event occurred at a parliamentary meeting for the Leningrad region.

The action sparked anger among fellow MPs, with some asking for Mr Petrov’s assistant to be detained.

“Can we all bring cardboard versions of ourselves to meetings or is just him? Does this mean that his vote will still be considered?” MP Andrei Lebdev said, asking for the cardboard cut-out to be turned against the wall.

(47news

However, the vice-governor of the Leningrad region Oleg Koval put the photograph out next to him with the words “This is my Petrov”.

Mr Petrov could not attend the meeting due to a broken leg, according to 47news.

Regional parliaments of Russia are the legislative bodies of power in the country. The federal structure of Russia includes 83 regional parliament.

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