Putin arrives at Russian Federation council as autumn session draws to close

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived at the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, where members are holding a plenary session.

According to Interfax, the meeting is set to mark the conclusion of the autumn parliamentary session.

This year marks 25 years since President Vladimir Putin initiated changes to the way Russia’s Federation Council is formed.

Previously, each region was represented by two officials – the governor and the head of the local parliament – who combined their primary roles with their work as senators.

The president’s aim was to improve the quality of parliamentary activity and strengthen democracy in Russia.

Following reforms adopted in 2000, representatives of each region in the Federation Council are now appointed separately: one by the executive branch and one by the legislative. Senators no longer hold concurrent positions as governors or parliamentary speakers.

By Aghakazim Guliyev