MOSCOW, March 18 - RAPSI. Sergei Mironov, the leader of the A Just Russia parliamentary party, told journalists on Tuesday that opposition activist, Deputy Dmitry Gudkov should not be stripped of his right to speak in parliament, but he should publicly apologize for his trip to the United States.

Media reported earlier this month that Gudkov traveled to the United States to speak at a forum sponsored by the Freedom House human rights organization.
During the event, he urged US politicians to try to positively influence corrupt officials in Russia, including State Duma deputies.

Meanwhile, Mironov said he was not aware of Gudkov's trip before the media reports.

The State Duma Commission on Parliamentary Ethics will consider on March 20 allegations that Gudkov urged the United States to influence Russian officials.

Deputy Speaker Sergei Zheleznyak said earlier that the commission decided to review the incident after receiving a letter signed by the representatives of four parliamentary parties, including Liberal Democrat Igor Lebedev, Communist Oleg Denisenko, and A Just Russia's Svetlana Goryacheva. They are concerned, he noted, by "Gudkov's calls for US politicians to interfere in Russia's internal affairs."

Gudkov may face a penalty as stipulated by the State Duma's rules of conduct, acting commission head Andrei Andreyev said. He may be required to make a formal apology or will receive a reprimand. Furthermore, he may be stripped of his right to speak in parliament.

The letter was signed by individual deputies - and not parliamentary parties - as Duma regulations require complaints to be lodged by individuals, Andreyev said.

Last year, the bureau of the supreme council of A Just Russia voted to expel from the party Dmitry Gudkov and his father, former MP Gennady Gudkov. The bureau considered their participation in the protest against the Dima Yakovlev Law banning the adoption of Russian kids by US parents on January 13 inappropriate and recommended that other party members refrain from taking part in similar campaigns.

The State Duma stripped Gennady Gudkov of his mandate last year after the investigative authorities accused him of engaging in commercial activities - a violation of the law on a legislator's activities. According to Russian legislation, deputies are not permitted to be involved in business.

Gudkov, who took part in the protest rallies last December, has denied the charges. Earlier, A Just Russia Chairman Nikolai Levichev said that the Young Socialists of Russia movement, which comprised the party's young members and was led by Dmitry Gudkov, who was expelled from the party, is not operational and served only as a method for Gudkov to acquire a seat in the Duma.