MOSCOW, February 17 (RAPSI) – State Duma's Communist lawmaker Vadim Solovyov is proposing to oblige parliamentary candidates to disclose information about loan debts, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.

The loan debts of over 60 high-ranking officials and members of the State Duma (lower house) and the Federation Council (upper house) exceeded 10 billion rubles ($153.6 million) in 2014, according to the Federal Bailiff Service.

Solovyov said his initiative is not designed to prevent these candidates from running for office, but to ensure that voters know about their debts and debt where candidates act as guarantors.

“The electorate must have complete information about candidates and be able to act on it. If a candidate cannot deal with his or her debt, how can they be trusted with government affairs?” Solovyov said, explaining his view.