to remove his mandate before the opposition's next national political rally -- under the March of Millions slogan -- planned for September 15. Gudkov is an organizer of the unsanctioned demonstration and is expected to speak at the rally in Moscow.

Gudkov said he believed the United Russia majority in the Duma would ramrod through a motion based on the prosecutor's request during its session on September 12.

"I am completely convinced that the date September 12 is completely logical from the point of view of our government servants, since they think that it is necessary to 'shut down' Gudkov and the rest of the opposition, evidently, on September 15-16. I am using the kind of language that they use," Gudkov said.

"Deputy Gudkov's mandate is a big obstacle to themprotect the state against serious threats, to use them against the opposition," Gudkov continued.

"They are traitors. They are traitors because they have betrayed all the principles that have to operate in any normal, civilized country."

Former Federation Council Chairman and A Just Russia party founder Sergei Mironov says the party will fight to support Gudkov. In an interview with Russian television, Mironov said he believed United Russia did not have the right to revoke the mandate of an elected deputy but that with the support of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, a party headed by nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky that routinely votes with United Russia, they would do so.

And, like Gudkov, Mironov said he was certain that the prosecutors and the ruling-party lawmakers were acting at the behest of