Direct Democracy

Russian Federation

DD002

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Article 3: 3. The supreme direct expression of the power of the people shall be referenda and free elections. Article 135: 3. The Constitutional Assembly shall either confirm the invariability of the Constitution of the Russian Federation or draft a new Constitution of the Russian Federation, which shall be adopted by the Constitutional Assembly by two thirds of the total number of its members or submitted to a referendum. In case of a referendum the Constitution of the Russian Federation shall be considered adopted, if over half of the voters who came to the polls supported it and under the condition that over half of the electorate participated in the referendum.
Source:	The Constitution of the Russian Federation amended as of June 9, 2001, art. 3(3) & 135(3): http://www.constitution.ru/index.htm
Verified:	2024/03/27

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DD003

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	In Russia, the mandatory referendum may be provided for only by an international treaty.
Source:	EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION) REFERENDUMS IN EUROPE – AN ANALYSIS OF THE LEGAL RULES IN EUROPEAN STATES: https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2005)034-e
Verified:	2024/03/27

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DD004

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	In Russia, an optional referendum can relate to a new constitution as a whole, on the initiative of the constituent assembly.
Source:	EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION) REFERENDUMS IN EUROPE – AN ANALYSIS OF THE LEGAL RULES IN EUROPEAN STATES: https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2005)034-e
Verified:	2024/03/27

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DD005

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Article 14: 1. In the Russian Federation, the initiative to hold a referendum is vested in those citizens of the Russian Federation who are entitled to participate in a referendum.
Source:	Law: Russian Federation Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum", art. 14: https://legislationline.org/taxonomy/term/12320
Verified:	2024/03/27

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DD006

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook: https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/direct-democracy-international-idea-handbook
Verified:	2024/03/27

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DD007

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	An election association in order and on the ground stipulated by the federal law and (or) the statute of election association is entitled to recall a candidate nominated by such association.
Source:	FEDERAL LAW ON BASIC GUARANTEES OF ELECTORAL RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT OF CITIZENS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO PARTICIPATE IN A REFERENDUM, article 38: https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-REF(2012)008-e
Verified:	2024/03/27

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DD129

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:	Article 73: 1. A decision adopted at a referendum shall be binding and shall not need any additional approval.
Source:	Law: Russian Federation Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum", amended as of July 4, 2003, art. 73(1): https://legislationline.org/taxonomy/term/12320
Verified:	2024/03/29

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DD130

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:	Article 92: The Acting President of the Russian Federation shall not have the right to dissolve the State Duma, call a referendum or to submit proposals for amendments to and the revision of the provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Article 6: At elections or a referendum a citizen of the Russian Federation shall vote directly at elections or a referendum for or against a candidate (a list of candidates) respectively, for or against a referendum question.
Source:	Constitution of the Russian Federation, article 92: http://archive.government.ru/eng/gov/base/54.html Federal Law on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum (amended 2003), article 6: https://legislationline.org/taxonomy/term/12320
Verified:	2024/03/29

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DD131

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Article 130: 2. Local self-government shall be exercised by citizens through a referendum, election, other forms of direct expression of the will of the people, through elected and other bodies of local self-government.
Source:	The Constitution of the Russian Federation, amended as of 9 June 2001, art. 130(2): http://www.constitution.ru/index.htm
Verified:	2024/03/29

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