The painful redistribution of top jobs in the State Duma has finally been completed. United Russia (which secured the majority of seats in the lower house at last month’s elections) has, quite unexpectedly, given several key posts in house committees to virtual outsiders.

Gennadyi Raikov

Gennadyi Raikov, known for his abhorrence of homosexuals and an attempt to re-criminalize homosexuality a year ago, has been appointed the chairman of the committee for deputies’ ethics, a couple of days after defecting from the People’s Party.

Raikov, the former leader of the People’s Deputy Group (the People’s Party), who announced his decision to join the United Russia faction only a day earlier, was entrusted the top post in the Duma credentials committee, which, among other things, will oversee deputies’ ethics.