Expulsion of a key opposition figure within the Russian parliament has once again drawn the attention of international media to Russia.HAWNNU4NYRJT

The New York Times gives Gennady Gudkov’s background and his portrait calling him “a gregarious, rumpled populist” and “a voluble man’s man — the kind of person a Russian would call a “muzhik” — in a rubber-stamp legislature.”

It goes on to explore his possible future moves, citing one of the experts saying: “You are witnessing the birth of a new public politician.”

Like the previous edition, The Los Angeles Times is concerned about the extrajudicial character of the parliament’s decision:

“Gudkov, however, became the first Russian legislator to lose his job for allegedly running a business while in parliament, in violation of rules. Prosecutors who appeared before the Duma on Friday displayed a photocopy of a document from Gudkov's former company that allegedly contained his signature. Gudkov called it a fake.”

The Washington Post describes Gudkov as a “lonely voice of criticism in the legislature” and cites some of the most emotional parts of his final statement before getting unseated by a 294 vs 150 vote, with three abstentions.

“But I want to leave in order to come back and to build a new country, which will make its people proud,” he said. “We will win, the truth will win, the constitution will win, and we’ll come back, believe me.”

The Guardian looks at his accusations directed at the FSB, Russia’s Federal Security Agency. 

“He said agents had begun regularly wiretapping, illegally filming and breaking into the emails of those who disagreed with Putin's regime. "Why is our president silent?" he asked. "Does he understand what a dangerous Pandora's box we're opening right here and now? If he understands and is silent, that means he approves, and that means it was agreed with him. This is a very vicious and risky path."

United Russia deputies interviewed by bbcrussian.com say more heads could roll in the future if similar cases are uncovered.

According to a poll conducted a week before the vote by the VTsIOM agency, 71 percent of the respondents are sure that mixing business and legislation are routing practices for the Russian MPs.