State Duma adopts presidential bills declaring Russian Constitution's priority over int'l law
MOSCOW. Nov 18 (Interfax) - The presidential bill declaring the Russian Constitution's priority over international law and agreements passed the third and final reading at the State Duma's plenary meeting on Wednesday.
The deputies adopted four bills from the second package of the presidential initiatives made in furtherance of the updated Russian Constitution on October 14. The four bills aim at the extensive renovation of Russian legislation consistent with the new constitutional provision, which declares the Russian Constitution's priority over international legal acts. All of them passed the second reading on November 17.
Three initiatives amend Russian codes. Two amend the Civil Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, and the third one affirms the Russian Constitution's priority in the Arbitration Procedure Code, the Civil Procedure Code, and the Administrative Procedure Code.
The fourth amendment declares the Russian Constitution's priority over international law and rulings in over a hundred federal laws covering a broad range of issues, from consumer rights, export control, and blood donors to viniculture, fisheries, and protection of investments.
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said earlier that the bills aimed to protect the sovereignty of Russia.
As of November 18, only two out of six bills submitted by the president as part of the second package on October 14 have not been adopted by the State Duma: the bill on the State Council is preparing for the second reading (the first reading took place on November 11) and amendments to the Family Code regarding the priority of the Russian Constitution have yet to undergo the first reading.