On April 26, 2012 the Russian Agency of International Information «RIA Novosti» hosted a round table on “Concepts of “E-Parliament” establishment in Russia”. Yuri Hohlov, Chairman of the IIS Board of Directors, acted as moderator.

The round table was attended by:
- Ruslan Gattarov, Member of the Federation Council, Chairman of the Committee of the Council of legislators for information society development;
- Ilya Ponomarev, Chairman of Subcommittee for innovations of the State Duma Committee for Economic Policy, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship;
- Alena Popova, Director and Founder of the Open Projects Foundation;
- Ivan Begtin, Director of Non-Commercial Partnership “Information Culture”;
- Natalya Davletshina, Executive Director of Expert Network for public administration issues “Gosbook”.

Participants of the round table examined questions related to developing the concept and action plan for “E-Parliament” establishment, and expressed an expert opinion on this topic.

In particular, participants emphasized that in order to prepare these documents and to take into consideration public and expert opinion a web-site was is functioning: http://dumaem-vmeste.ru, where any user can present his vision and ideas as to how the system of legislative power in Russia should be changed in the epoch of Internet, and evaluate proposals of other participants of the discussion.  

Among the main questions – providing for openness of information about work of deputies and mechanisms of public control over its efficiency, new forms of citizens’ involvement  in reviewing draft laws, ways of formation and promotion of public legislative initiatives. On the basis of proposals, which received the majority of votes in support, it is planned to prepare an action plan for establishment of “E-Parliament”, as well as to create a public council for control over program’s implementation.

The public hearings on the concept of “E-Parliament” establishment and gathering of proposals will be finished by May 21, 2012, and after that the expert work on consideration and synthesis of received proposals will start.