The State Duma will invite political parties that have no parliamentary representation to discuss reform of the country’s political system on February 28, Oleg Morozov, deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, said on Thursday.
The session will address recent presidential bills including party registration rules and direct elections for governors.
The decision was made by the House Council, Morozov said.
He did not say exactly which parties will be invited and whether the description “non-parliamentary” also applied to unregistered parties, including the People's Freedom Party, co-chaired by former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov.
A Kremlin source said on Wednesday Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will meet with opposition leaders later this month to discuss political reform.
Medvedev has proposed an array of liberal reforms, including reinstating direct elections of regional governors and simplifying registration procedure for political parties.
The Vedomosti daily said Medvedev will meet with leaders of unregistered parties on February 20.
