Right after the report behind Navalni poisoning… Putin signs the’Permanent Immunity Privilege’ Act

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill granting “lifetime immunity privileges” to former presidents and their families, British Guardians and others reported on the 22nd (local time).

Under current Russian law, the former president is entitled to immunity only for crimes committed while in office. The newly revised law will apply privileges to crimes committed after the end of the term.

However, there are exceptions. In the case of felony crimes such as state treason, immunity from immunity will be deprived if the approval of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court fails. But It is pointed out that the process is difficult, and in fact, the former president cannot be punished for committing any crime.

The only surviving former Russian president is Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president from 2008 to 2012. Therefore, Medvedev applies from the time the bill goes into effect, and President Putin withdraws from the president after completing his term of office in 2024.

At home and abroad, it is interpreted that the bill is one of the safeguards made by President Putin, who aims to rule for life.

President Putin paved the way for a long-term power through a referendum on the amendment bill in July. 46 out of 133 constitutions were amended, including a provision that allows the term of office to be increased by 2036, and the ex-president’s immunity clause was also passed.

For this reason, when this provision passed the first reading (deliberation) in November, Russian opposition activist Alexey Navalni raised a question on Twitter saying, “Why Putin should now have immunity privileges?”

The timing of signing is also raising doubts. The Guardian said, “President Putin’s signature was made a day after the report on Navalni’s poisoning attacks came out.”

The day before, CNN reported that there was a testimony that a poison team under the Russian Federation Security Forces (FSB) tried to poison Navalni in August. In response, Navalni said, “It has become so clear that there is President Putin behind the poisoning attempt.”

Reporter Lee Min-jung [email protected]