MOSCOW, February 17, 2004 (RIA Novosti) - The initiative advanced by the Ivanovo district to extend the presidential term to 7 years will dominate the agenda of the plenary meeting of the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on February 18. This decision was adopted by the Duma Council, Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov told reporters on Tuesday.
"As I have already said the United Russia faction will not back the bill," emphasised Mr Gryzlov.
He recalled that the Duma's relative committees had ruled against the bill.