MOSCOW - Russian deputies yesterday failed to pass a measure aimed at blocking the eventual reburial of Vladimir Lenin's embalmed body, which lies in a mausoleum on Red Square 73 years after his death.
"In the name of workers we demand hands off the mausoleum, or otherwise we will call for workers and peasants to march on Moscow to defend the motherland and its sacred symbols!" said Communist deputy, Mr Vasily Shandybin, defending the resolution.
The draft resolution "Prevent an Act of Vandalism!", which would have been a public appeal rather than law, fell 11 votes short of the 226 needed for passage in the communist-dominated State Duma lower chamber.