Circumstances and persons concerned

The President ceases to exercise his or her powers before the end of his or her term of office in the event of his or her resignation, his or her persistent inability to exercise his or her powers for health reasons or his or her removal from office (Article 92.2 of the Constitution). He or she may be impeached by the Council of the Federation only on the basis of charges of high treason or another grave crime advanced by the State Duma and confirmed by the conclusion of the Supreme Court about the presence of elements of crime in his or her actions, and by the conclusion of the Constitutional Court confirming that the rules for advancing the charges have been observed (Article 93 of the Constitution).

Modalities and procedure

The decision of the house on advancing charges and the decision of the Council of the Federation on impeaching the President are adopted by two-thirds of the votes of the total number of members of each house on the initiative of not less than one-third of the house deputies and with the conclusion of a special commission set up by the house. The decision of the Council of the Federation on impeaching the President is adopted no later than three months after the advancement by the house of the charges against him or her. If a decision of the Council is not adopted during this time, the charges against the President are regarded as rejected.

Consequences

If an impeachment decision of the Council is adopted, the election of the President takes place no later than three months after the termination of the powers short of the term. In all cases when the President is incapable of fulfilling his or her duties, they are temporarily fulfilled by the Chairman of Government. An acting President has no right to dissolve the House, appoint a referendum or change the provisions of the Constitution.

Have these procedures been applied?   No   

Not available