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Features - A Guide to Russian Legal Research

By Marina Konioukhova, Published on September 17, 2001
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Marina Konioukhova is the Head of Business and Legal Information Center of the Saint-Petersburg City Public Library. She graduated from the Saint-Petersburg State University of Culture and Art in 1979, and was the Chief Bibliographer of the Saint-Petersburg City Public Library for eight years thereafter. In 1995, she headed a new department of the Library - the Business Information Center. In 1998, the Business Information Center created a special Center of Legal Information.

Additions may be identified by        (yellow background color).

Table of Contents

General Information About the Russian Federation
State Structure and State System
The Constitution of the Russian Federation
The Federative Treaty
State Authorities in the Russian Federation
The President of the Russian Federation
The State Council of the Russian Federation
Pleninpotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation of the Russian Federation in the Federal District (Areas)
Other Authorities Subordinate to the President of the Russian Federation
Legislative Authorities
The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
The State Duma
The Federation Council
Legislative Process
Executive Authorities
The Government of the Russian Federation
Federal Organs of the Executive Authority
Federal Ministries of the Russian Federation
State Committees of the Russian Federation
Federal Commissions of the Russian Federation
Federal Services of the Russian Federation
Russian Agencies of the Russian Federation
Federal Supervision Commissions
Judicial System of the Russian Federation
General Provisions
The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation
The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation
The Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation
The Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Official Publication of Laws, Legal Acts and Documents
Federal Jurisdiction and Jurisdiction of the Federal Subjects of the Russian Federation
Jurisdiction
Federal Jurisdiction
Joint Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction of the Federal Subjects
Federal Subjects of the Russian Federation
State, Legislative & Executive Authorities of the Federal Subjects
Federal Districts (Areas) of the Russian Federation
Republics Within the Russian Federation
Krais (Provinces) Within the Russian Federation
Oblasts (Regions) Within the Russian Federation
City - Subjects of Federal Significance Within the Russian Federation
Autonomous Oblast (Region) Within the Russian Federation
Autonomous Okrugs (Districts) Within the Russian Federation
Legal Systems, Databases, Guides and Indexes
Legal System "Garant"
Legal Systems "Kodeks"
Nationwide Russian Network for Distribution of Legal Information "Consultant Plus"
Legal Databases, Catalogues, Guides & Indexes

General Information About the Russian Federation

Russia (the Russian Federation) is a democratic, federative, law-based state with the republican form of government. State power is divided among the legislative, executive and judicial branches, which are independent of one another.

With an area of 6,592,800 square miles (17,075,400 square kilometres), Russia is the world's largest country. It ranks sixth in the world in population, following China, India, the United States, Indonesia, and Brazil. The great majority of the people are Russians, but there also are some 70 smaller national groups living within its borders.

Russia consists of 89 federal subjects - 21 autonomous republics, six krais (provinces), 49 oblast (regions), two cities of federal status, one autonomous oblast and ten autonomous okrugs (districts), each endowed with equal rights.

The capital of the Russian Federation is the city of Moscow. The status of the capital is established by the federal law.

The state language of the Russian Federation throughout its territory is the Russian language. The republics have the right to institute their own state languages. They are used alongside the state language of the Russian Federation in bodies of state power, bodies of local self-government and state institutions of the republics.

Until December, 1991 the Russian Federation was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, in which it was one of fifteen republics. Since 1991, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy.

Background Notes: Russia (in English)
http://www.state.gov/www/background_notes/russia_0005_bgn.html
Brief information about Russia, its geography, people, government, economy, history, political and judicial system, foreign relations which is published on the official site of the U.S. Department of State.

The World Factbook 2002: RUSSIA  (in English)
 http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rs.html
Information and facts about the Russian Federation on the official site of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the USA.

Russia in the international system (in English)
http://www.cia.gov/nic/pubs/conference_reports/russia_conf.html
In February 2001, the National Intelligence Council sponsored a conference that examined Russia's evolution and its role within the international system over the next three to five years. The conference brought together approximately 100 government and outside experts. It consisted of six panels with presentations by more than 20 US and European non-governmental experts, followed by question-and-answer sessions. The purpose of the conference was not to arrive at a consensus but to deepen understanding of Russia and how it interacts with the outside world.

Russia - geographic location, resources, population, main cities  (in English)
http://www.russianembassy.org/RUSSIA/geograf.htm

Soviet Union: A Country Study (in English)
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sutoc.html
A country study of Soviet Union, its history, government structure, state and economic policy, prepared by Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (in English)
http://tm.mednet.md/M%20ac&hys/Union%20of%20Soviet%20Socialist%20Republics.htm

The Bucknell Russian Program (in English)
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/russian/
This site contains an annotated catalogue of  links to information about different aspects of Russian life and society, its history and culture.

Russia and the Newly Independent States (in English)
http://www.countrywatch.com/cw_regions.asp?REGION=4

Russia Political, Economic and Environmental Information and News (in English)
http://www.countrywatch.com/cw_country.asp?vcountry=142

Russia Political, Economic and Environmental Information and News (in English)
http://www.countrywatch.com/files/142/cw_country.asp?vCOUNTRY=142

Russia's Development Strategy to the Year 2010 (in English)
http://www.russiaeurope.mid.ru/RussiaEurope/strategy2010.html

State Structure and State System

Russia was an absolute monarchy - the Russian Empire - before 1917.

On November 7, 1917, the Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized control and established the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (R.S.F.S.R.). Even before the R.S.F.S.R. had been established, the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets had created a Soviet republic out of the former Russian Empire. The Third All-Russian Congress of Soviets (January 1918) announced the creation of the R.S.F.S.R., and the republic's first constitution was promulgated in July 1918.

On December 30, 1922, the R.S.F.S.R. and the other republics (Ukrainian, Belorussian and Transcaucasian republics) entered the formal federation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.), whose constitution was ratified in 1924.

Under the Soviet constitutions, the R.S.F.S.R. nominally was a sovereign socialist state that derived its power from the workers and peasants. The 1936 constitution, established a federal structure that lasted for about 50 years, despite changes introduced in 1978.

The R.S.F.S.R. was politically divided into autonomous republics, autonomous oblasti and okruga  - which were the homelands of the more important non-Russian nationalities - as well as provinces and kraya , the latter division including the autonomous provinces and districts. All these divisions were represented in the legislative branch: the Supreme Soviets of the U.S.S.R. and of the R.S.F.S.R., both of which were bicameral (a Soviet of the Federation and a Soviet of Nationalities). Under this system the highest organ of state power in the republic was the Supreme Soviet of the R.S.F.S.R., which appointed the Council of Ministers as its highest executive and administrative organ

From the late 1980s through 1991 fundamental changes took place in the political system and government structures of the U.S.S.R. that altered both the nature of the Soviet federal state and the status and powers of the individual republics.

In June 1990 the Congress of the R.S.F.S.R. proclaimed that Russian laws took precedence over Soviet laws. In April 1991 the post of President of the Russian Federation was created to head the executive branch and to be elected by popular vote.

On December, 26 the U.S.S.R. was formally dissolved. Concurrently, the Russian Federation and 10 other former Soviet republics established the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which was to replace the Soviet Union with a more loosely structured federation. Russia played a leading role in the creation of the CIS and has maintained its status as the dominant member.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation became its largest successor state, inheriting its permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, as well as the bulk of its foreign assets and debt.

The 1993 Constitution declares Russia a democratic and federative state with a republican form of government. Federative relations were formed on the basis of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Federative Treaty and  agreements between the federal center and the subjects of the federation.

The Constitution of the Russian Federation

The Constitution (http://www.constitution.ru/) is recognized to be the primary source of law in Russia.

The Constitution is the highest legal act which has a direct effect and supreme legal force and which is applicable throughout the entire territory of the Russia. No laws and other legal acts adopted by the Russian Federation and lower administrative units (sub units of the Russian Federation) may contravene to the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

The present Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted at the nation-wide referendum on 12 December 1993. No substantial amendments to the Constitution were introduced since then. Sub units of the Russian Federation have their own constituent documents.

The Constitution of the Russian Federation includes the following chapters:

  • The Fundamentals of the Constitutional System
  • Rights and Freedoms of Man and Citizen
  • The Federal Structure
  • The President of the Russian Federation
  • The Federal Assembly
  • The Government of the Russian Federation
  • Judicial Power
  • Local Self-government
  • Constitutional Amendments and Review of the Constitution

The new Constitution of the Russian Federation became the most democratic and perfect Constitution in history of Russia. The previous Constitutions  were very influenced by French constitutional model with strong President in political system and detailed description of rights and freedoms according standards of Universal Declaration of Human's Rights of 1948 year.

Constitution of 1993 - the document that actually created new legal system of Russia, that is based on constitutional principles. Such constitutional constructions as Parliament, subjects of Federation, self-management, Constitutional Court became every day practice.

The Constitution of the RSFSR 1918 (in English)
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/russian/const/1918toc.html

The Constitution of the USSR 1936 (in English)
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/russian/const/1936toc.html

The Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the USSR 1977 (in English)
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/russian/const/1977toc.html

The Constitution of the Russian Federation 1993 (in Russian, English, French & Germany)
http://www.constitution.ru/

The Constitution of the Russian Federation 1993 (in Russian)
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/russian/const/constit.html

The Constitution of the Russian Federation 1993 (in English)
http://www.democracy.ru/english/library/laws/constitution_eng/
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/russian/const/constit.html)

The Declaration of Independence of Russia 1990 (in Russian)
http://www.cityline.ru/politika/doc/dogs.html

The Federative Treaty

The Federative Treaty on allocation of subject matter jurisdiction and competence between the federal bodies of state power and bodies of state power of sub units of the Russian Federation (http://www.ufacity.info/nb/federationdogovorrf.htm) was signed on March 31, 1992 by plenipotentiary representatives of the federal state power bodies of the Russian Federation and the power bodies of republics within the Russian Federation. The Treaty consisted of three separate documents, each pertaining to one type of regional jurisdiction. It outlined powers reserved for the central government, shared powers and residual powers to be exercised primarily by the federal subjects.

The federation was formed of administrative-territorial and national-territorial units: republics, territories, regions, federal cities, an autonomous region and autonomous areas, which are equal subjects of the Russian Federation.

The federated structure of the Russian Federation is based on its state integrity, the uniform system of state power, delimitation of scopes of authority and powers between the bodies of state power of the Russian Federation and the bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, equality and self-determination of the peoples in the Russian Federation.

All the subjects of the Russian Federation are equal among themselves in relations with the federal bodies of state power.

The Federative Treaty on allocation of subject matter jurisdiction and competence between the federal bodies of state power and bodies of state power of sub units of the Russian Federation:
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Enterprises/2493/fedtreat.html (in English)
http://www.cityline.ru/politika/doc/fd.html (in Russian)

Historical roots of federalism in Russia (in English)
http://petrsu.karelia.ru/International/courses/history/topic12_1.htm

State Authorities in the Russian Federation

The Constitution of the Russian Federation states: "State power in the Russian Federation is exercised on the basis of the separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers. Organs of legislative, executive and judicial power are independent" (Article 10) http://www.democracy.ru/english/library/laws/constitution_eng/page1.html#P36_4763)

State power in the Russian Federation is exercised by the President of the Russian Federation, the Federal Assembly (the Federation Council and the State Duma), the Government of the Russian Federation and courts of the Russian Federation.

State power in the subjects of the Russian Federation is exercised by the organs of state authority formed by them.

The scopes of authority and powers of the bodies of state authority of the Russian Federation and the bodies of state authority of the subjects of the Russian Federation are delimited under the Constitution of the Russian Federation, Federal and other Treaties on the delimitation of scopes of authority and powers.

The President of the Russian Federation

The Russian Federation is a presidential republic.

The President of the Russian Federation (http://president.kremlin.ru/) is the head of state, the guarantor of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, of human and civil rights and freedoms.

In accordance with the procedure established by the Constitution the President of the Russian Federation  takes measures to protect the sovereignty of the Russian Federation, its independence and state integrity, and ensure concerted functioning and interaction of all bodies of state power.

The President of the Russian Federation defines the basic domestic and foreign policy guidelines of the state in accordance with the Constitution and federal laws.

The President of the Russian Federation as head of state represents the Russian Federation inside the country and in international relations.

The President of the Russian Federation is elected for a term of four years by the citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of general, equal and direct vote by secret ballot. The procedure for electing the President of the Russian Federation is determined by federal law.

The President of the Russian Federation heads the Security Council and the Defense Council, he is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The President of the Russian Federation:

  • appoints Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation subject to consent of the State Duma
  • appoints and dismisses deputy chairmen of the Government of the Russian Federation and federal ministers as proposed by the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation
  • submits to the Federation Council candidates for appointment to the office of judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation as well as the candidate for Prosecutor-General of the Russian Federation
  • submits to the Federation Council the proposal on relieving the Prosecutor-General of the Russian Federation of his duties
  • appoints the judges of other federal courts
  • has the right to preside over meetings of the Government of the Russian Federation
  • decides on resignation of the Government of the Russian Federation
  • introduces to the State Duma a candidate for appointment to the office of the Chairman of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation
  • submits to the State Duma the proposal on relieving the Chairman of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation of his duties
  • forms and heads the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the status of which is determined by federal law
  • endorses the military doctrine of the Russian Federation
  • forms the staff of the President of the Russian Federation
  • appoints and dismisses plenipotentiary representatives of the President of the Russian Federation
  • appoint and dismisses the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
  • appoints and recalls, after consultations with the respective committees or commissions of the Federal Assembly, diplomatic representatives of the Russian Federation to foreign states and international organizations.

The President of the Russian Federation introduces draft laws in the State Duma, signs and publishes federal laws.  

The President of the Russian Federation issues decrees and executive order which are binding throughout the territory of the Russian Federation. The President of the Russian Federation has the right to suspend acts by organs of executive power of the subjects of the Russian Federation if such acts contravene the Constitution and federal laws, the international obligations of the Russian Federation, or violate human and civil rights and liberties, pending the resolution of the issue in appropriate court.

The Administration of the President  (http://www.gov.ru/main/page2.html) is formed in accordance with the Article 83 of the Constitution of the Russian Constitution and is the state organ  which supports the Russian Federation President's activities. The Administration is guided by the Constitution, federal laws, edicts and directives of the Russian Federation president, as well as the present Statute. The Statute on the Administration, its maximum number of employees, and the Administration's estimated budget are approved by the President of the Russian Federation.

On the Election of the President of the Russian Federation (31.12.1999) (in English)
http://www.ifes.ru/english/library/laws/presidelect_eng/index.html
http://democracy.ru/english/library/laws/presidelect_eng/

List of Federal Laws and other Normative acts regulating the early Election of the President of the Russian Federation (in English) http://www.ifes.ru:8101/eng/el_laws/4/index.html

On Ratification of the Statute on the Russian Federation President's Administration (in English)
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/russia/docs/edict_1412.htm

The President of the Russian Federation (in Russian)
http://www.cityline.ru/politika/prez/prez.html
Text of the president's oath, information about his legal status, authorities and administration.

Biography of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin (in English)
 http://www.russianembassy.org/RUSSIA/President.HTM

Vladimir Putin (in English) 
http://vladimirputin.4u.ru/
 http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Parliament/5160/Putin/
Information about the life and career of the president of Russia Vladimir Putin, with many pictures.

Inauguration Speech of President of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://www.russianembassy.org/RUSSIA/Speech-president.htm

The Protocol of the President of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://www.gov.ru/protocol/practica_eng/pr_en_1.html

Vladimir Putin's Presidential Election Website (in Russian & in English)
http://www.putin2000.ru

Russian Presidential Presse Service Reports (in English)
 http://www.ln.mid.ru/bl.nsf/goseng?OpenView&Start=1&Count=50&Expand=1#1

Interview of the President of Russia (full text) (in English)
http://russia.strana.ru/stories/2000/12/26/977851612/977855752.html
Vladimir Putin sums up the results of his first year of presidency.

In the First Person: Conversation with Vladimir Putin (in Russian)
http://www.vagrius.com/books/putin/index.shtml
The full text of a book that was placed by the Vagrius publishers on its web site on March 13, 2001.

The Residence of the President of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://www.moscowkremlin.ru/NS/english/22.html

Vladimir Putin (in English)
http://www.abcnews.go.com/reference/bios/putin.html#top
Reference information and latest articles on the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin: year and a half as Russian President (in English)
http://www.romir.ru/eng/research/putin-analysis.htm
Article about the results of the political research of an independent research agency ROMIR Research Group (Russian Public Opinion & Market Research).

The State Council of the Russian Federation

The RF State Council (SC) was established on 1 September 2000 by RF President Vladimir Putin's decree.  Originally, the State Council was instituted in Russia in 1801. By 1810 it became the supreme legislative and advisory body of the Russian Empire. The State Council played an important role in preparation and release of the first Complete Code of Laws of the Russian Empire. It also took an active part in developing the legislative base of the 1860-1870s reforms (such as abolition of serfdom and others).

The State Council of the Russian Federation is an advisory body, assisting the Head of a State in realization of powers on issues of ensuring the coordinated functioning and interaction of state bodies of power.  The President of the Russian Federation is the Chairman of the State Council.
Supreme officials (heads of supreme executive state bodies of power) of constituent subjects of the Russian Federation are the members of the State Council.

The activity of the State Council is guided by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal constitutional laws, federal laws, decrees and resolutions of the President of the Russian Federation, and also by the present Regulations. One of the principal tasks of the State Council is to assist the President of the Russian Federation in conciliation procedures in case of disagreements between state bodies of power of the Russian Federation and state bodies of power of constituent subjects of the Russian Federation, and also between state bodies of power within constituent subjects of the Russian Federation.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation «On the State Council of the Russian Federation» (01.09.2000)
http://www.gov.karelia.ru/gov/Leader/Gossovet/ukaz.html  (in Russian)
http://www.kazanfed.ru/en/docum/ukaz/2/  (in English)
  
Regulations about the State Council of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://www.russiamonitor.org/en/main.asp?menu_id=1_a_170_27
General provisions, primary goals, structure and the organization of work of the State Counsil.

The State Council of the Russian Federation (in Russian)
http://www.cityline.ru/politika/gos/gs.html
Information about the history, structure and functions of the State Council.

First anniversary of the establishment of the State Council of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://english.pravda.ru/politics/2001/09/01/13980.html
Article about the establishment of the State Council of the Russian Federation.

The State Council in the Russian Federation (in English)
http://www.msps.ru/eng/libr/rr5/3.html
 

The Pleninpotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation of the Russian Federation in the Federal District (Areas)

The plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation in federal district (hereinafter referred to as the plenipotentiary) is the official, representing the President of the Russian Federation within the respective federal district. There are 7 federal districts in the Russian Federation: Central, North-West, Volga (Privolzhsky), Urals, Syberian, Far Easten and Southern federal districts.

The plenipotentiary provides for realization of the constitutional powers of the head of state within the respective federal district.

The plenipotentiary is the federal civil servant and part of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.

The plenipotentiary is appointed and dismissed by the President of the Russian Federation upon the representation of the Head of Administration of the President of the Russian Federation (article 83 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation).

The plenipotentiaries are immediately subordinated to the President of the Russian Federation and accountable to him.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation «On Plenipotentariary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal District» (13.05.2000)
http://www.kazanfed.ru/en/docum/ukaz/1/  (in English)
http://www.100mb.ru/~grankin/docs/ru_ukaz019.htm  (in Russian)

Plenipotentiary Representatives of the RF President in the Federal Areas (in Russian)
http://geocities.com/wervov/Predstav.htm  
http://www.100mb.ru/~grankin/russia/ru_prez14.htm

Federal districts of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://www.fccland.ru/english/map-fed.htm

Russian President's Plenipotentiary to the Central Federal District (Area) (in Russian)
http://www.cfopolpred.ru/  (official site)
http://www.cfo-regions.ru/index.html

Russian president's plenipotentiary to the Northwestern Federal District (in Russian)
http://nw.wnet.ru/rus/

Russian president's plenipotentiary to the Southern Federal District (in Russian)
http://www.100mb.ru/~grankin/russia/ru_prez14.htm#05
http://delvesti.volgorod.ru/index.shtml?6_2002/txt/region/ufo.txt

Russian president's plenipotentiary to the Siberian Federal District (in Russian)
http://www.sibfo.ru/polpred/

Russian president's plenipotentiary to the Urals Federal District (in Russian)
http://www.uralfo.ru/polpred.html

Russian president's plenipotentiary to the Volga (Privolzhsky) Federal District (in Russian)
http://www.pfo.ru/

Russian president's plenipotentiary to the Far-Eastern Federal District (in Russian)
http://vlast.rambler.ru/8620/8633/
 

The Security Council

The Security Council (http://www.scrf.gov.ru/) is a constitutional organ that prepares the Russian Federation president's decisions on questions of ensuring the protection of vitally important interests of the individual, society, and the state against internal and external threats and conducting a unified state policy in the sphere of safeguarding security.

The Security Council is formed by the President of the Russian Federation in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and Russian Federation law "On Security."

The Security Council's main tasks are to:

  • determine the vitally important interests of society and the state and identify internal and external threats to security;
  • elaborate the main areas of the strategy for safeguarding the security of the Russian Federation and organize the preparation of federal targeted programs to ensure it;
  • prepare recommendations for the Russian Federation president on decisions on matters of Russian Federation domestic and foreign policy in the sphere of safeguarding the security of the individual, society, and state;
  • prepare timely decisions on preventing emergency situations that might lead to significant sociopolitical, economic, military, ecological, and other consequences and on organizing their elimination;
  • prepare proposals for the Russian Federation president on the introduction, extension, or lifting of a state of emergency;
  • devise proposals on coordinating the activities of federal; organs of executive power and organs of executive power in the Russian Federation components in the process of implementing decisions made in the sphere of safeguarding security and assess their effectiveness;
  • improve the system for safeguarding security by elaborating proposals on reforming existing or creating new organs safeguarding the security of the individual, society, and the state.

The Security Council secretary is a Russian Federation official and is directly subordinate to the President of the Russian Federation, he is appointed and dismissed by the President. The Security Council secretary ensures the activities of the Security Council and is in charge of its apparatus.

The Security Council secretary keeps the Russian Federation president informed about problems of the country's internal and external security, defense capability, military-technical cooperation, and development of global information systems; consolidates and submits to the Security Council analytical surveys of information on the state of Russian Federation security; prepares the Security Council's work schedule and creates the agenda for Security Council sessions; coordinates the work of interdepartmental commissions of the Security Council, the academic council under the Security Council, and federal organs of executive power and organs of executive power of the Russian Federation components on the preparation of requisite materials for Security Council sessions; represents the Russian Federation president's interests on matters of security in federal organs of state power and organs of state power in Russian Federation components; submits to the Security Council proposals on the creation, functions, and composition of interdepartmental commissions of the Security Council and academic council under the Security Council.

On the Russian Federation Security Council (in English)
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/russia/docs/edict_1024.htm
Text of the Presidential Edict No. 1024 (10 July 1996)

Members of the Security Council of the Russian Federation (in Russian)
http://www.scrf.gov.ru/Personnels/Members.htm

Security and Defense Councils (in English)
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/russia/councils.htm

The Security Council of the Russian Federation (in Russian)
http://www.scrf.gov.ru/Documents/History.html
About the history, legal statute, structure and activity of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

Presse Services Reports on the Security Council of the Russian Federation (in English) http://www.ln.mid.ru/bl.nsf/goseng?OpenView&Start=1&Count=50&Expand=2#2

Other Authorities Subordinate to the President of the Russian Federation

The heads of state organs responsible for security and defense are directly subordinate to the President :

Under the law «On external intelligence» (http://svr.gov.ru/svr_today/doc02.htm), Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) is a forces composition of RF security provision and it’s assigned to protect the personality, society and state security from the external danger with use of methods and means specified by present federal law.

Intelligence activity is carried out by means of:

  • information collecting and processing about real and potential possibilities, actions, plans and intentions of foreign states, organizations and persons affecting the vital interests of Russian Federation (hereinafter - intelligence information);
  • assistance provision in realization of measures fulfilled by the state in behalf of Russian Federation security provision.
  • Federal Agency for Government Communications and Information (FAPSI) (in Russian)  http://www.government.ru/institutions/ministries/details.html?he_id=258

The Federal Agency for Government Communications and Information (FAPSI), the Russian counterpart to the US National Security Agency, was established by the Presidential Decree "On the Federal Government Communications and Information Agency" (http://www.government.ru/institutions/ministries/docs.html?he_id=604) on 19 February 1993, In 1994, the Russian president approved the statute of this secret service. FAPSI replaced the Administration of Information Resources (AIR) at the Presidential Office, which was formed from the KGB Eighth (Encoding) Chief Directorate and Sixteenth Directorate, the Decoding and Radio Interception Service, and the Government Communications Directorate of the USSR KGB.

FSB: History, Legislative Authorities, Operations, Counterintelligence Cases, Organization, Budget and Personnel (in English)
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/russia/fsb/index.html

Foreign Intelligence Service (in English)
http://www.agentura.ru/english/dosie/svr/
Information about the structure and history of Foreign Intelligence Service, its personnel and documents adjusting SVR activity.

FAPSI: History, Legislative Authorities, Operations, Organization, Budget and Personnel (in English)
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/russia/fapsi/index.html

Federal agency of governmental communication and information (in English)
http://www.agentura.ru/english/dosie/fapsi/
General information about FAPSI.

FAPSI History (in Russian & in English)
http://www.agentura.ru/english/dosie/fapsi/story/

Federal Agency for Government Communications and Information (in Russian)
http://www.jetinfo.ru/2000/8/1/article1.8.2000.html
The article about the history and present state of FAPSI.

Soviet-Russian Intelligence Agencies (in English)
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/russia/index.html
This site of the Federation of American Scientists provides a selection of official and unofficial resources about Russian and Soviet Intelligence Agencies.

On Behalf of national security (in Russian and in English)
http://www.agentura.ru/english/
This site is about Russian and world special services and consists of several sections. Section «Press» is devoted to the journalists working in this sphere, «Timeline» - all that happened to special services over the latest ten years, section «Equipment» is devoted to special technical means - from «bugs» to satellites.

The SVR: Russia’s Intelligence Service (in English)
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/russia/svr/c103-gb.htm
The article about the Foreign Intelligence service (SVR) by Gordon Bennett (Conflict Studies Research Centre, Sandhurst UK).

Legislative Authorities

The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

According to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Federal Assembly (the Parliament of the Russian Federation) is the permanently functioning representative and legislative organ of the Russian Federation.

The Federal Assembly consists of two chambers:  The Federation Council (http://www.council.gov.ru/) - the upper chamber and The State Duma (http://www.duma.gov.ru/) - the lower chamber.

The procedure for forming the Federation Council and the procedure for electing deputies to the State Duma is established by federal law of the Russian Federation.

The Federal Assembly forms the Audit Chamber (http://www.ach.gov.ru/) to monitor the implementation of the federal budget of the Russian Federation.

Major stages of representative (legislative) power history in Russia and establishing the Council of Federation (in English)
http://www.council.gov.ru/inf_e/history_e.htm

The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://www.naa.be/publications/special/rus-fact.html
Special publication (fact sheet) by the North Atlantic Assembly about the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the State Duma and the Federation Council.

Russian Federal Assembly. Powers and Procedures (in English)
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2568/gdsfpro0.html

The Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://www.council.gov.ru/index_e.htm
This server provides information about the Council of Federation - the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, its status and power.

The Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://www.ach.gov.ru/eng/
Web-site of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation - the supreme body of state financial control of Russia.

Federal Law "On the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation"
http://www.ach.gov.ru/zakon/fedzakon/zakon.shtml (in Russian)
http://www.cagindia.org/mandates/Mandates/Russia.html#Russia_Law (in English)
Text of the Federal Law passed by the State Duma on November 18, 1994; approved by the Federation Council on December 7, 1994.)

Legislature of Russia (in Russian)
http://www.legislature.ru/
This site provides information about the legislative authorities of the Russian Federation, about the history of Russian Parliamentarism, it has links to the Russian legal databases, to the regional Parliaments of the Russian Federation and to the electronic versions of the new books about the Russian legislative, executive and judicial authorities.

Federal Law "On the Audit Chamber of the Russian Federation" (in Russian)
http://www.ach.gov.ru/zakon/zakon.shtml

The State Duma

The State Duma (Gosudarstvennaya Duma)  (http://www.duma.gov.ru/) is the lower house of the Federal Assembly, the Parliament of the Russian Federation. The first State Duma was elected on December 12, 1993 simultaneously with the adoption of the new Constitution in a national referendum.

The State Duma consists of 450 deputies, elected for a four-year term (the first State Duma  was elected for a transitional period of two years): 225 members are elected from single mandate constituencies and 225 members by proportional representation.

In the December 1999 elections, six parties made the 5% barrier for representation in the Duma. These parties are entitled to form a parliamentary fraction. In total 225 members were elected through their party lists and 216 members were elected from single mandate constituencies. The new Duma, therefore, consists of 441 members. Six factions and three deputy groups have been registered at the current Duma.

The State Duma can be dissolved by the President of the Russian Federation before its term in cases stipulated in Articles 111 and 117 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. In the event of the dissolution of the State Duma, the President of the Russian Federation shall determine the date of elections so that the newly-elected State Duma shall convene not later than four months since the time of dissolution.

Any citizen of the Russian Federation aged 21 or over who has the right to take part in elections may be elected a Deputy of the State Duma. A Deputy of the State Duma may not simultaneously be a member of the Federation Council, a deputy of other representative bodies of federal or local government or a public servant; and should work at the Duma on a permanent professional basis.

The State Duma adopts the draft laws and then passes them for review to the Federation Council within five days. A federal law is considered passed if more than half of the Federation Council deputies vote for it or if, within fourteen days, it has not been considered by the Federation Council.

In the event that the State Duma disagrees with the decision of the Federation Council, it can vote again, and if at least two-thirds of the total number of deputies vote for it, the law is considered as adopted and sent to the President for signing and publication within fourteen days.

The Jurisdiction of the State Duma:

  • granting consent to the President of the Russian Federation for the appointment of the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation;
  • decisions on confidence in the government of the Russian Federation;
  • the appointment and dismissal of the Chairman of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation;
  • the appointment and dismissal of the Chairman of the Accounting Chamber and half of its staff of auditors;
  • the appointment and dismissal of the Plenipotentiary for Human Rights acting in accordance with the Federal Constitutional Law;
  • granting amnesty;
  • bringing charges against the President of the Russian Federation for his impeachment. Each deputy of the State Duma, with the exception of the Speaker, deputy speakers and faction leaders, must serve on one of the 28 standing committees of the Duma. Temporary commissions can be created if needed.

The State Duma Committees (http://www.duma.gov.ru/deputats/committe.htm):

On the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (24.06.1999) (in English)
http://www.ifes.ru:8101/eng/el_laws/dleng99/dleng99.html
The unofficial translation of the Federal Law of the Russian Federation.

Presse Services Reports on the State DMA of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://democracy.ru/english/library/laws/dumaelect_eng/index.html
Unofficial translation of the The Law regulates the process of electing members of the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament. Passed by the State Duma on June 2, 1999, approved by the Federation Council on June 9, 1999, published for the first time in «Rossiyskaya Gazeta» on July 1 and 3, 1999.

Main Provisions of the Federal Law «On the Election of Deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation» (in English)
http://www.ifes.ru/english/library/comments/eng_1999-34.html

Presse Services Reports on the State DMA of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (in English)
http://www.ln.mid.ru/bl.nsf/goseng?OpenView&Start=1&Count=50&Expand=4#4

Information Channel of the State Duma of the Russian Federation (in Russian)
http://www.akdi.ru/gd/akdi.htm

Procedures for the elections to the State Duma (in English)
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2568/gdsfpro2.html

The State Duma. Powers and Procedures (in English)
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2568/gdsfpro3.html
The article about the main powers of the State Duma and the procedures in it.

The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation 1996 - 1999 (in Russian)
 http://www.garant.ru/files/duma_htm/
Electronic Encyclopaedia provides information about the history, structure and activity of the State Duma of the Russian Federation during 1996-1999.

The State Duma (in English)
http://www.legislature.ru/fund/persons/zakhpubl/rusonrus.htm
The article about the State Duma of the Russian Federation is published on the web-site of the Foundation for the Development of Parliamentarism in Russia.

The Foundation for the Development of Parliamentarism in Russia
http://legislature.ru/fund/index.html  (in Russian)
http://legislature.ru/fund/eng/index.html  (in English)
Web-site of the Foundation for the Development of Parliamentarism in Russia (FDPR) which was set up in January 1994 for rendering assistance to committees and commissions of the Federal Assembly (Russian Parliament) chambers, political parties and movements, independent deputies in drafting laws and doing independent professional assessment of bills and laws.

The Federation Council

The Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (Soviet Federatzji ( http://www.council.gov.ru/ ) - the upper chamber of the Russian parliament is formed by two representatives of each sub unit of the federation  - one from the legislative and one from the executive branch and it consists of 178 members from 89 regions. Members of the Council of federation lose their status when they leave their office in the bodies of the sub unit.

The procedure for the formation of the Federation Council is established by the Federal Law of the Russian Federation "On the Formation of the Federal Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (07.08.2000)"  (http://www.100mb.ru/~grankin/docs/ru_zak002.htm).

The Federation Council has the following powers which are laid out in the Article 102         (http://www.democracy.ru/english/library/laws/constitution_eng/page4.html#P407_53073) of the Constitution of the Russian Federation:

  • approves changes of borders between the subjects of the Russian Federation
  • approves the decree of the President on the introduction of martial law
  • approves the decree of the President on the introduction of a state of emergency
  • makes decisions on the possibility of the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outside the territory of the Russian Federation
  • calls elections of the President of the Russian Federation
  • impeaches the President
  • appoints judges of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of Arbitration
  • appoints and dismisses the Prosecutor-General
  • appoints and dismisses the deputy Chairman of the Accounting Chamber and half of its staff of auditors
  • passes resolutions on the issues within its jurisdiction under the Constitution of the Russian Federation

Other powers regarding the personnel policy not mentioned in the Constitution, but granted to the Federation Council by federal laws include:

  • endorsement of the appointment of the members of the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation
  • appointment of five out of the 15 members of the Central Electoral Commission of the Russian Federation
  • appointment of two representatives of the Federation Council to the National Banking Council (NBC)
  • appointment of representatives of the State Duma to the Council for Public Service resided over by the President of the Russian Federation
  • appointment of Deputy Prosecutors General (proposed by the Prosecutor General)

The Federation Council passes resolutions by a majority of votes of the total number of its members.

Federal laws regarding the questions of war and peace, status and defense of the state borders of the Russian Federation, the ratification and denouncement of international treaties, the federal budget, federal taxes and duties financial and monetary matters, credit, customs regulation, monetary emission, passed by the State Duma are subject to obligatory review by the Federation Council.

The Federation Council forms committees and commissions (http://council.gov.ru/sostav/komitets/spis_kom.htm) and together with the State Duma conducts parliamentary hearings on questions of jurisdiction.

Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (in Russian & in English)
http://www.cityline.ru/politika/e/fs/sf.html#st
This site provides information about the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, its status, powers and history.

Federation Council Information Channel of AKDI Agency (in Russian) 
 http://www.akdi.ru/sf/akdi.htm

The Federation Council: Composition, Powers, Procedures (in English)
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2568/gdsfpro1.html

The Federation Council of the Russian Federation (in Russian)
http://www.100mb.ru/~grankin/russia/ru_sf.htm
This site contains information about the Federation Council, its leaders and representatives from the regions of the Russian Federation, committees and commissions of the Federal Council.

Elections Laws and related Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation (in English)
 http://www.ifes.ru/english/library/laws/ (in English)

Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum” 12.07.2002 (in Russian)
http://www.ifes.ru/library/laws/federal/bg_law_12062002/index.html  

Foreword to the Federal law “On Basic Quarantees of Electoral Rights...” (in English)
http://www.cikrf.ru/_2_en/fz_referendum.htm  
Commentaries to the new provisions of the law.

Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum” 12.07.2002 (in Russian)
http://www.ifes.ru/library/laws/federal/bg_law_12062002/index.html  

Foreword to the Federal law “On Basic Quarantees of Electoral Rights...” (in English)
http://www.cikrf.ru/_2_en/fz_referendum.htm
Commentaries to the new provisions of the law.

Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum (in English)
http://www.ifes.ru/english/library/laws/bg_law_eng/index.html  
Unofficial translation of the the Law which applies to all elections in Russia; enacted September 30, 1997, amended March 30, 1999. This law was replaced by the Law on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights of Citizens of the Russian Federation of 2002.

The International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) (in Russian and in English)
 http://www.ifes.ru/
The web-site of the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) contains different information, laws and legislative acts of the Russian Federation regarding the elections to the state and legislative authorities, electoral rights and the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation to participate in Referendum.

Legislative Process

Federal legislation can be initiated by the President of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council, the State Duma, the Government of the Russian Federation, legislative and executive bodies of sub units of the Russian Federation, as well as by the Constitutional Court, Higher Commercial Court, and the Supreme Court of General Jurisdiction.

All draft laws are initially introduced to the State Duma of the Russian Federation. The draft laws on the introduction or abolishing of taxes, exemptions from the payment thereof, on the issue of state loans, on changes in the financial obligations of the state and other draft laws providing for expenditures covered from the federal budget can be introduced to the State Duma only with a corresponding resolution by the Government of the Russian Federation.

According to the Rules (Regiment) of the State Duma, (http://www.duma.gov.ru/reglamnt/reglamnt.htm) the proposed law normally passes three hearings (readings) before it is finally approved by the State Duma. A majority vote of the deputies of the State Duma in each of these hearings is required to adopt federal laws and amendments to laws. Federal constitutional laws require approval by three-quarters of the deputies of the upper chamber of the Parliament and by two-thirds of the lower chamber.

A federal law approved by the Sate Duma is passed to the Council of Federation for review within five days. If the Council of Federation considers a federal law and declines it, the law is returned to the State Duma. The Duma then has the option to either introduce amendments suggested by the upper chamber or by pass the need for the Council of Federation approval by a two-thirds majority vote in support of the law.

Laws of certain categories may proceed to President's desk not only if they are approved by  the Council of Federation, but also if the Council fails to take an action on the law within fourteen days after its approval by the Sate Duma.

Within five days after approval by the Council of Federation or after expiration of time for action by the Council, the federal law is sent to the President of the Russian Federation for signing and promulgation.

If the President rejects the law, the law is reconsidered by the Parliament. In order to overcome Presidential veto, both chambers of the Parliament must adopt the law by two-thirds majority. The President is then bound to sign and promulgate the law.

Federal laws take effect only after they  are signed by the President of the Russian Federation and published in the official source for federal laws newspaper "Rossiiskaya Gazeta" (http://www.rg.ru/oficial/).

All federal laws are binding  on the entire territory of the Russian Federation.

Federal constitutional laws are passed on issues specified in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. A federal constitutional law is considered adopted, if it has been approved by a majority of at least three quarters of the total number of deputies of the Federation Council and at least two thirds of the total number of deputies of the State Duma. The adopted federal constitutional law is signed by the President of the Russian Federation within fourteen days and published.

Statistics of the Legislative activity of the State Duma of the Russian Federation (in Russian)
http://www.duma.gov.ru/lawstat/index.php
This database on the official site of the State Duma covers the information about the legislative activity of the State Duma of the Russian Federation (1996 - 2001).

Russian Law Monitoring (in Russian)
http://www.rlm.ru/plan/index.shtml
The forecast and the analyses of the legislative activity of the State Duma Committees.

Analytical and statistical information about the legislative activity of the State Duma of the Russian Federation 1996-1999 (in Russian)
http://www.garant.ru/files/duma_htm/analit/index.htm
 

Executive Authorities

The federal executive branch is represented by the President and the Government of the Russian Federation.

The President  of the Russian Federation appoints key officials, including the  Prime Minister (http://www.gov.ru/main/ministry/isp-vlast47.html) - the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation who is appointed in agreement with the State Duma of the Russian Federation (Articles 110 and 111 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation http://www.democracy.ru/english/library/laws/constitution_eng/page5.html#P471_61633)

The Government of the Russian Federation

The Government of the Russian Federation (http://www.government.gov.ru/) consists of a Prime Minister (http://www.government.gov.ru/government/minister), Deputy Prime Ministers (http://www.government.gov.ru/government/ministers/), Federal ministers, State Committees, Federal Commissions, Federal Services, Federal Supervision Departments, Federal Agencies, and Federal Inspections. Some of these bodies report to the Government while other report directly to the President of the Russian Federation. The work of the Government of the Russian Federation is regulated by federal constitutional law.

Articles 112 and 113 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation (http://www.democracy.ru/english/library/laws/constitution_eng/page5.html#P471_61633) state that the Prime Minister (the Chairman) of the Government of the Russian Federation:

  • submits to the President of the Russian Federation proposals on the structure of the federal organs of executive power
  • proposes to the President of the Russian Federation candidacies for the posts of Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation and federal ministers.
  • in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, and edicts of the President of the Russian Federation, defines the basic guidelines for the activity of the Government of the Russian Federation and organizes its work

The Prime Minister, in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws and decrees of the President of the Russian Federation determines the guidelines of the work of the Government of the Russian Federation and organizes its work.

The Government of the Russian Federation has the following powers which are laid out in the Article 114 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation (http://www.democracy.ru/english/library/laws/constitution_eng/page5.html#P476_62417):

  • to develop and to present the federal budget to the State Duma, ensure its implementation, and reports on the latter to the State Duma
  • to ensure the conduct of a unified financial, credit, and monetary policy, policy in the areas of culture, science, education, health care, social security, and ecology
  • to undertake the administration of federal property, measures to ensure the defense of the nation, state security, the conduct of foreign policy, measures to ensure the lawfulness, rights, and freedoms of citizens, the protection of property and public order, and crime prevention
  • to coordinate the activities of federal executive authorities on economic reform, reform of the social sector, housing and construction policy, reform of the scientific sphere and branches of infrastructure, national regional policy for cooperation with member states of the CIS, law enforcement activities
  • to exercise other authority placed upon it by federal laws and presidential decrees

On the basis of and pursuant to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws and normative decrees of the President of the Russian Federation the Government of the Russian Federation issues decrees and orders and ensures their implementation thereof.

The decrees and orders of the Government of the Russian Federation are binding throughout the Russian Federation.

The decrees and executive orders of the Government of the Russian Federation may be repealed by the President of the Russian Federation if they contravene the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws and the decrees of the President of the Russian Federation.

Federal Constitutional Law N 2-FKZ "On the Government of the Russian Federation" 17.12.1997 (in Russian) http://www.government.gov.ru/prav/index.html?st_id=7317&he_id=5

Government of the Russian Federation (in Russian and in English)
 http://www.ln.mid.ru/bl.nsf/goseng?OpenView&Start=1&Count=50&Expand=3#3
The official site of the Russian Government comprises three sections: "Office of the Prime Minister", "Federal Government Agencies and Departments" and "The Press Center". The site reference sections provide biographies of the Prime Minister, Cabinet Members and federal executive leaders. The Ministries' pages contain statutes of federal executive bodies, provide contact details and links to Web-sites of Ministries and Departments. Daily news updates under the headings of "Official Chronicle" and "Press Releases" are the most popular pages of the site. These pages offer exclusive news earlier than information agencies and TV.

Russian Government Internet Network (in Russian)
http://www.gov.ru
The Web-site of the Russian Federation administrative bodies. Here you can find official information and documents from the Web-pages of the Russian President, Security Council as well as references to the Web-pages of other official Web-sites. Some of the documents you'll find in English, but some are only in Russian.

Prime Minister's (Kasyanov M.) address to State Duma before confirmation (in English)
http://www.government.gov.ru/government/minister/kas1805.html

Government Information Departments Reports (in English)
http://www.ln.mid.ru/website/bl.nsf/goseng?OpenView&Start=1&Count=50&Expand=3#3

Government on the WWW (in Russian)
http://gosorgan.amursk.ru/
This site contains a lot of links to the Russian  government, federal ministries, services and state committees, to the executive authorities if federal subjects of the Russian Federation, to the parties, political and non-governmental organizations.

Reference Directory of the Official Authorities of the Russian Federation (in Russian)
http://geocities.com/wervov/
This directory contains reference information about the Russian state authorities: the President of the Russian Federation and his Administration, about the Government, ministries, federal services and state committees.

State Authorities in Russia (in Russian)
http://www.mgi.ru/regards.htm
In this guide you will find the links to the sites of the Russian state authorities: government, ministries, federal services and state committees.

State an Legislative Authorities of the Russian Federation: Telephone Directory (in Russian)
http://www.100mb.ru/~grankin/russia/index.htm
In this virtual Telephone Directory you can find not only the addresses, phone's numbers of the President of the Russian Federation, his Administration, Ministries, federal services and committees, state and legislative authorities but also the biographies of Russian statesmen and politicians, information about the elections to the State Duma, legal documents and the publications regarding the main political events in Russia during 1999-2000.

Action Plan of the Russian Government of the Russian Federation in the Area of Social Policy and Economic Modernization for the Years 2000 - 2001 (in English)
http://www.csr.ru/english/action.html

Federal Organs of the Executive Authority

The creation of federal organs of executive authority, their reorganization and liquidation is carried out by the President of the Russian Federation at the suggestion of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

The federal executive branch consists of:

Federal services, Russian agencies and Federal Directorates perform special functions within their established jurisdictions - executive, regulatory, monitoring and the others.

The Structure of the Federal Executive Branch of the Russian Federation (according to the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation 17.08.1999) (in English)
http://ngo.org.ru/ngoss/get/id12831.html

Federal Ministries (in Russian and in English)
http://www.government.ru/institutions/ministries/index.html
Information about all the federal ministries of the Russian Federation is published on the official site of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Presse Services Reports of the Federal Ministries and Departments (in English)
http://www.ln.mid.ru/bl.nsf/goseng?OpenView&Start=1&Count=50&Expand=5#5

Official Russian Government Sites
http://www.therussiasite.org/gov/gov.html
The following are links to official government sites. Some of these sites have pages in English, but generally the sites in Russian are updated more frequently and contain more information.

Federal Ministries of the Russian Federation

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (The Ministry of Interior) (in Russian)
http://www.mvd.ru/

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Russian, in English, in French, in German and in Spanish)
 http://www.minjust.ru/

The Ministry of Justice (in Russian)
http://www.scli.ru/

The Ministry of Defense (in Russian)
http://www.mil.ru/

The Ministry for the Federation and Ethnic Matters (in Russian)
http://www.pravitelstvo.gov.ru/institutions/ministries/minfed.html

The Ministry of Finance (in Russian & in English)
http://www.minfin.ru/  There are two sections in English: “Information of Fiscal Sector presented by Economic Expert Group” and “External Debt of the Russian Federation”.

The Ministry of State Property (in Russian)
http://www.maprf.ru/
The English version of this site is under construction.

The Ministry of Press, TV and Radio Broadcasting and Mass Media (in Russian)
http://www.mptr.ru/

The Ministry for Antimonopoly Policy and Business Support (in Russian)
http://www.maprf.ru/
The English version of this site is under construction.

The Ministry of Taxation (in Russian & in English)
http://www.nalog.ru/
There is special section “Legal information” on the site where you will find english versions of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation (part 1 and part 2) and several Federal Laws.

The Ministry for Revenues (in Russian)
http://www.nalog.ru/

The Ministry for Civil Defense,  Emergencies and Disaster Management (in Russian)
http://www.emercom.gov.ru/

The Ministry of Energy (in Russian)
http://www.mte.gov.ru/

The Ministry for Atomic Energy (in Russian and in English)
 http://www.minatom.ru/

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Russian Federation (in Russian and in English)
Information about the  Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Russian Federation, its structure and activity is published on the server of the  Agrarian Russian Information System (http://www.aris.ru/).  On this server you will find the official and legal documents; branch, price, commercial and statistical information; information about the agriculture reform in Russia and international projects; information about the international investments in the Agri-Industrial Complex, conferences and exhibitions different databases; links to the Russian and foreign Internet resources.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Development (in Russian)
http://www.mintrud.ru/

The Ministry of Industry, Science and Technology (in Russian)
 http://mp.it-group.ru/

The Ministry of Education (in Russian)
http://www.ed.gov.ru/
http://db.informika.ru/ic/merf/  (in English)
Information about the structure of the Administration of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation and institutions subordinated to the Ministry of General and Professional Education, Telephone Directory of the Ministry are placed on the site “International Cooperation.”

The Ministry of Natural Resources (in Russian)
http://www.mnr.gov.ru/

The Ministry of Health (in Russian)
http://www.minzdrav-rf.ru/

Ministry for Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism (in Russian)
http://www.infosport.ru/minsport/str_poloj.htm

The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (in Russian)
http://www.economy.gov.ru/

The Ministry of Communications (in Russian)
http://www.mps.ru/

The Ministry of Transport (in Russian)
http://www.mintrans.ru/

The Ministry of Culture (in Russian)
 http://www.mincult.ru/

The Ministry of Communication and Information (in Russian)
http://www.minsvyaz.ru

State Committees of the Russian Federation

State Customs Committee (in Russian and in English)
 http://www.customs.ru/ru/index.xpml

State Committee of the Russian Federation on Statistics (in Russian and in English)
http://www.gks.ru/

State Committee for Standardization and Metrology (in Russian and in English)
http://www.gost.ru/sls/gost.nsf/

State Committee of the Russian Federation for Physical Culture and Sport (in Russian)
http://www.goskomsport.ru/

State Committee for Building and Housing-Municipal Complex (in Russian)
http://www.gosstroy.gov.ru/

State Committee for Fishing (in Russian)
http://www.government.gov.ru/institutions/ministries/details.html?he_id=231

Federal Commissions of the Russian Federation

The Federal Commission for the Securities Market (in Russian and in English)
 http://www.fedcom.ru/fcsm/

State Technical Commission (in Russian)
http://www.infotecs.ru/gtc/

State Technical Commission (in English)
http://www.agentura.ru/english/dosie/gosteh/

Federal Energetics Commission (in Russian and in English)
 http://www.fecrf.ru/

Federal Services of the Russian Federation

Federal Land Cadastre Service (in Russian and in English)
http://www.goscomzem.ru/

Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (in Russian and in English)
http://www.mecom.ru/roshydro/pub/index.htm

Federal Security Service (FSB) (in Russian)
http://www.fsb.ru/

State Courier Service (in Russian)
 http://www.gfs.ru/

Federal Archives Service (in Russian)
 http://www.rusarchives.ru/branch/rosarchive/

Federal Geodetic and Mapping Service (in Russian)
 http://www.roskart.ru/

Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) (in Russian)
http://svr.gov.ru/

Federal Service of the Railway Forces (in Russian)
http://www.fsgv.ru/

Federal Service of Tax Policy (in Russian)
http://www.pravitelstvo.gov.ru/institutions/services/fsnp.html

About Federal Service of Tax Policy (in English)
http://www.agentura.ru/english/dosie/fsnp/

Federal Service for Financial Recovery and Bankruptcy (in Russian)
 http://www.fsforus.ru/

Federal Protective Service (in Russian)
 http://www.government.gov.ru/institutions/ministries/details.html?he_id=248

About Federal Protective Service (in English)
http://www.agentura.ru/english/dosie/fso/

Federal Border Service (in Russian)
 http://www.fps.ru/

Federal Service of Special Building (in Russian)
 http://www.spetsstroy.ru/

Russian Agencies of the Russian Federation

Russian Control System Agency (in Russian and in English)
http://www.pacy.ru/eng/eindex.php3

Russian Aviation and Space Agency (in Russian & in English)
http://www.rosaviakosmos.ru/

Russian Munitions Agency (in Russian & in English)
http://www.munition.ru/

Russian Agency for Usual Arms (in Russian)
 http://www.fagci.ru/

Federal Agency for Government Communications and Information (FAPSI) (in Russian)
http://www.government.ru/institutions/agencies/fapsi.html

Russian Control Systems Agency (in Russian, in English, in French, in Spanish, in German)
 http://www.government.ru/institutions/ministries/details.html?he_id=254

Russian Agency for Ship Building (in Russian)
 http://www.rossud.ru/

Russian Agency for Patent and Trademarks (Rospatent) (in Russian & in English)
http://www.rupto.ru/

Russian Agency for State Reserves (in Russian)
 http://www.government.gov.ru/institutions/ministries/details.html?he_id=257

Federal Supervision Committees

Federal Committee for Nuclear Safety and Radiation (in Russian)
http://www.gan.ru/

Federal Committee for Mining and Industrial Supervision (in Russian)
 http://www.gosnadzor.ru/

Governmental Working Center for Economic Reform (in Russian)
 http://www.government.gov.ru/institutions/ministries/details.html?he_id=518

Russian International Nuclear Safety Center of the Ministry for Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation (in Russian and in English)
http://www.insc.ru/
International Nuclear Safety Center of Russian MINATOM (RMINSC) was founded in accordance with a Joint Declaration on Establishing International Nuclear Safety Centers, adopted in January 1996, in Washington during the Sixth Session of the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission on economical and technological cooperation. The Russian and U.S. International Centers are under the general direction of the RF Minister for Atomic Energy and the US Secretary of Energy, respectively.

Russian Federal Property Fund (in Russian and in English)
http://www.dol.ru/users/rffi/fund.htm
The Russian Federal Property Fund (RFPF) was established in February 1992 by the Order of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation and functions in accordance with the Decree of the RF President of December 17, 1993. The RFPF has the status of a Specialized Financial Institution of the Government and is the exclusive seller of Federal assets.

Judicial System of the Russian Federation

General Provisions

The existing judicial system of the Russian Federation was formed and is being developed as a result of a judicial reform carried out in Russia from the beginning of the 90s with the purpose to create and maintain the judicial power in the state mechanism as an independent branch of power, free from political and ideological bias, independent in its activities from the executive and legislative branches of power.

The judiciary system of the Russian Federation is established by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the federal constitutional law. Independent, competent law court is an important component of a democratic state based on a rule of law. Judiciary power is exercised to constitutional, civil, administrative and criminal process.

The Constitution of the Russian Federation of 1993 became the main legal basis for the introduction of the judicial reform. The structure of the judicial system of the Russian Federation and the sphere of activities of its various parts are determined by the Article 118 of the Constitution (http://nadzor.vvsu.ru/English/legislation/show_article.asp?id=259) and federal constitutional laws.

Judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, of the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation are appointed by the Federation Council following nomination by the President of the Russian Federation.

Judges of other federal courts are appointed by the President of the Russian Federation in accordance with procedures established by federal law.

The powers, and procedure of the formation and activities of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation and other federal courts are established by federal constitutional law.

The judicial system of the Russian Federation consists of:

  • The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation (