MOSCOW, November 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's lower chamber of parliament voted Friday to cancel VIP tricolor license plates on cars belonging to State Duma deputies and senators.
A total of 396 deputies voted for amendments to the law on the status of Federation Council members and State Duma deputies on a first reading. There were no votes against and no abstentions.
The amendments were submitted by the pro-presidential United Russia faction, whose members earlier decided to stop using strobe lights on their cars that gave deputies the right of way on Moscow's often congested streets.
The authors of the amendments said the move will help consolidate society and remove barriers between the authorities and ordinary people, given that only emergency services vehicles will now enjoy traffic advantages.
State Duma Speaker and United Russia leader Boris Gryzlov said earlier that Duma cars with strobe lights belonged only to opposition members.
