MOSCOW, August 18 (RAPSI) – State Duma lawmaker Alexei Zhuravlyov (the Rodina party) has proposed stripping MPs off their authority and banning them from election if they hold debt of over 1.5 million rubles (about $23,000), Izvestia reports on Tuesday.

According to the newspaper, this restriction could be imposed on those parliament members who are subject to court decisions on debt liability in an amount over 1.5 million rubles. If supported by the State Duma, the initiative would concern both existing MPs and candidates running for office.

The explanatory note to the bill states that a parliament member’s rights to participate in an election could be restored 12 months after satisfying a court ruling.

Zhuravlyov says, despite the fact that there are State Duma members with large debts, the bill, even if adopted during the fall session, would not affect the current convocation. “The law would not have a retrospective provision. Current lawmakers will be able to complete their terms. However, they risk ineligibility in the next election.”