Duma Approves Measure Giving Immunity to Russian Presidents

The lower house of parliament gave initial approval Wednesday to a bill offering former Russian presidents immunity from prosecution for criminal actions during their tenure, despite objections that it gives presidents free rein to violate the law.

The bill, proposed by the government, parallels the main provisions of a decree signed by President Vladimir V. Putin shortly after the resignation of his predecessor, Boris N. Yeltsin. The move led many to speculate that Yeltsin’s motivation for stepping down six months before the end of his term was fear of investigation into his corruption-tinged administration.

The State Duma, the lower house of parliament, gave the bill 282-130 approval on the first of its required three readings.

Along with stating that a former president is immune from prosecution for actions during the term, the bill also says the former president’s offices cannot be searched and the president’s documents cannot be perused.

Communist legislator Anatoly I. Lukyanov said the measure violates the Russian Constitution, which states that all citizens are equal before the law.