Duma likely to strip lawmaker of immunity.

MOSCOW, October 22 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian State Duma will decide
on Friday whether to strip its member of immunity upon a request of
Investigation Committee head Alexander Bastrykin.
Ashot Egiazaryan from the Liberal-Democratic Party of Vladimir
Zhirinovsky is accused of major fraud.
Mandate commission has recommended to the house to satisfy Bastrykin's
request.
Egiazaryan is outside Russia at present and asked the Duma either to
postpone the issue or let him join the session through a TV link-up.
LDPR faction said it will protect its member, but fears the issue has
been already decided.
"According to our information, the United Russia (ruling party)
decided to satisfy Bastrykin's request," faction leader Igor Lebedev told
Tass.
However United Russia faction leader and State Duma speaker Boris
Gryzlov said the party will make the decision in the session hall.
So far the Communists agreed to strip Egiazaryan of immunity.
In the whole of its history the State Duma has stripped three members
of immunity - Sergei Mavrodi (who was sentenced for organizing a financial
pyramid), Nadirshakh Khachilayev (after his armed supporters attacked the
parliament building in Dagestan) and Vladimir Golovlev (for office abuse
and embezzlements). Khachilayev and Golovlev were later both shot dead in
apparent contract killings.