MOSCOW, April 13 - RAPSI. The Central Election Commission (CEC) has stated that it is impossible to hold a referendum on Russia's joining the World Trade Organization.

The CEC made the statement while referring to the unfavorable opinion that its expert group voiced about the initiative.

All of the CEC's 12 members voted against such a referendum during a recent meeting.

Earlier, leader of the unregistered Party of Deeds Konstantin Babkin proposed that the CEC conduct a national referendum on Russia becoming a WTO member.
According to the CEC, Russia's international treaties are ratified in the form of federal laws.

The CEC also said a referendum must be structured unambiguously, so the results will be clear and any uncertain legal effects resulting from such a referendum can be ruled out.

"The proposed question does not meet such requirements," the CEC said.