The Russian Constitutional Court gave the green light on Wednesday to rescheduling parliamentary polls nearly three months earlier than their original date that was set for December 4, 2016.
To allow for early elections, the Constitutional Court allowed for a one-time minor reduction in tenures for members of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, Efe news agency reported.
Reducing the current five-year State Duma mandate would be acceptable on the condition that the measure was in line with constitutionally important objectives, the court observed.
The measure is for a single time only, and must not affect State Duma election timetables or the continuity of its operation, within reason.
Parliamentary term reductions must be minor, a few months at most, and must apply only to deputies in the current legislative mandate.
Rescheduled elections must also be decided and announced early enough beforehand so candidates have sufficient time to launch electoral campaigns.
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As long as the court's demands are met, pushing the elections forward to September 18, 2016, is constitutionally acceptable.
The decision will help to save on budgetary resources and increase citizen participation.