Moscow, Sep 15 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russian opposition lawmaker Gennady Gudkov was ousted from parliament Friday over charges he said were "payback" for his involvement in anti-Kremlin protests.

"I will leave, but will return to help build a new Russia that our children and grandchildren can be proud of," an emotional Gudkov told fellow lawmakers.

"They're expelling me from the Duma because they're afraid of the truth, afraid of criticism," he added.

His expulsion came ahead of a mass rally set for central Moscow Saturday against the 12-year rule of President Vladimir Putin.

Gudkov, 56, and his son, Dmitry, 32, also a State Duma lawmaker with the A Just Russia party, are among a few parliamentarians who joined forces with an opposition movement.

Gudkov, a former KGB colonel, was accused of engaging in direct commercial activity while serving as a lawmaker, which is forbidden under Russian law.

The vote was called after investigators asked for Gudkov's expulsion so that they could charge him with fraudulent business dealings in a case that could also land him in jail.

State Duma members receive immunity from prosecution.

He denied the accusations against him and said they were the Kremlin's revenge for his involvement in the protests that broke out after last December's parliamentary polls.

The move was approved by 291 members of parliament, almost 70 more than the minimum required. Gudkov told journalists he would appeal to Russia's Supreme Court.

"This is pure payback for my opposition activities," he told RIA Novosti.