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State Duma probes funding of Communist Party referendum

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MOSCOW, November 18 (RIA Novosti) - The State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, wants to determine the source of funds the Communist Party (KPRF) is using to finance its "popular referendum" on seven key issues of Russia's development.

The Duma instructed the committee on public associations and religious organizations to ask the Justice Ministry and the Central Election Commission about the legality of conducting and financing the alternative referendum.

The Russian Central Election Commission and the Supreme Court banned an official nationwide referendum, so the KPRF decided to hold a "people's referendum" at its regional centers from September 2005 through March 2006 to find out popular attitudes toward the minimum wage, the replacement of benefits with monetary compensations, and other social issues.

Pro-presidential party United Russia member Andrei Shevelev said a popular referendum required huge funding. "In regards to this, the question arises - where did the KPRF, which is constantly telling its electorate that it is poor, get the funds for such a grand action?" he said.

KPRF deputy Oleg Smolin rejected the accusations. "It's fine to look for money in someone else's pocket, especially if there's none there," he said.

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