Website of the President of Russia: Commissions and CouncilsPresidential Press and Information Office2024-03-26T22:15:54+04:00http://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/feedPresenting presidential prizes for young culture professionals and for writing and art for childrenhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/737362024-03-26T22:15:54+04:002024-03-26T18:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>A ceremony to present
the 2023 Presidential
prizes for young culture professional and for wiring and art for children and young
people took place in the Kremlin’s St Catherine Hall. </p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/tWNPWYgai1mCIaWA7Lw9mnM5zzT4LSTf.jpg" alt="Ceremony for presenting the Presidential Prize for young culture professionals and the Presidential Prize for writing and art for children and young people. The prize was awarded to Acting Rector of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography Marina Leonova for her contribution to the preservation and development of the traditions of the Russian school of choreography." /> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>A ceremony to present
the 2023 Presidential
prizes for young culture professional and for wiring and art for children and young
people took place in the Kremlin’s St Catherine Hall. </p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/tWNPWYgai1mCIaWA7Lw9mnM5zzT4LSTf.jpg" alt="Ceremony for presenting the Presidential Prize for young culture professionals and the Presidential Prize for writing and art for children and young people. The prize was awarded to Acting Rector of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography Marina Leonova for her contribution to the preservation and development of the traditions of the Russian school of choreography." /> <p>The ceremony was timed to Cultural
Worker’s Day marked on March 25.</p><p>* * *</p><p><b>President of Russia Vladimir Putin:</b> Good afternoon, friends,
winners,</p><p>Yesterday, we marked Cultural Worker’s
Day. One of the traditions is the awards ceremony for writing for children and prizes for young culture professionals.</p><p>I would like to emphasise that
culture and its spiritual, ethical, and moral values become increasing
important in today’s difficult, tragic times.</p><p>It is crucial for us to rely on these values of creativity, humanism, and mercy now as we go through hard times
reliving the events of last Friday. They are bringing us together in our
support for all the victims and in our resolve to be strong and united.</p><p>The clear-cut, unequivocal position
of those who serve culture is playing an enormous role in this respect. </p><p>Today your message and opinion,
your creative work itself directly affects how people feel and strengthens
their patriotic sentiment. You preserve and enrich the knowledge and traditions
of Russian culture, its continuity, and make an exceptional contribution to educating and molding the rising generations. In fact, you shape Russia’s
future.</p><p>It is particularly valuable when great,
highly praised masters become mentors for children and young people. One of them is the brilliant and world-famous vocalist Nikolai Didenko. The Bely Parokhod (White
Steamship) foundation he established almost 20 years ago opens up new horizons
for gifted children with disabilities and reveals the talents of children in difficult
circumstances. Mr Didenko, thank you for this important project. I wish your foundation
and its mentees great success. </p><p>Marina Leonova also devoted herself
to the new generations of creators. A guardian of traditions of the great
Russian ballet school, not only does she train future dancing stars but she also
raises compassionate, caring, and responsible people. The Moscow Academy of Choreography that you head is famous
for its educational and socially important initiatives – charity concerts and volunteer actions.</p><p>Director of the Ryazan State
Regional Puppet Theatre Konstantin Kirillov is also distinguished for his
diverse and broad interests. Under his guidance, the theatre has become one of the world leaders in this kind of visual art. This has become a venue where
traditions are cherished while innovations and creative experiments are always
welcome. It hosts the oldest and largest international festival of puppet
theatres and has a successful laboratory for young artists.</p><p>It is important that our celebrated
masters have worthy successors. Clear proof of this is the achievements of today’s prizewinners
for young culture professionals. The outstanding traditions of Russian realism
continue through painter Alexei Kryukov. He is an icon, portrait, and landscape
painter, who created an entire gallery of canvases and frescoes that draw the viewer back to our spiritual origins, to the greatness and valour of military
duty and defence of the Fatherland.</p><p>Celloist Alexander Ramm has become
one of the most famous and popular musicians in today’s Russia. He is a true
virtuoso with a wide repertoire, and his talent invariably captivates the audiences of the best concert venues. But he considers the most important thing
to be his tours in Russia, the opportunity to make philharmonic art accessible
to people in the most remote corners of the country.</p><p>Preserving the heritage of the peoples of Russia is another mission which is essential for our multi-ethnic
country and our entire society. Mengi Ondar, who is both a teacher and a scientist, has excelled in this field. She collects, studies, and actively
promotes the original folklore of her native land, Tuva, making a great
contribution to conserving and developing the ethnic and cultural diversity of our Fatherland.</p><p>Friends,</p><p>Your art, your educational
activities fill the cultural space of Russia with the energy of true
creativity, inspiration, and humanism. You add a new, expressive touch to our
most important traditional values: spiritual and moral ideals, historical
memory, love for the Fatherland and responsibility for its fate. Thank you for your dedicated service to your cause and the great culture of Russia. And, of course, congratulations on winning these prizes. I wish you further creative success, new heights
and achievements. Congratulations.</p><p><i>Ceremony for presenting the winners’
badges.</i></p><p><…></p><p><b>Vladimir Putin</b>: Friends, winners,</p><p>Once again, congratulations on your
awards today.</p><p>This is a very good nomination as we
thank for the work, congratulate and decorate people working for the youth and children, and at the same time we decorate those who have just become
outstanding figures of our art and have already achieved results, while at the same time, as one of the winners has said, they are ready, as young culture
professionals, to move on and share their knowledge with children, with the next
generations.</p><p>This is an endless river of creativity, a river of talent that fills the hearts of the peoples of the Russian Federation, the soul of the peoples of Russia, making them invincible,
standing strong and looking to the future. All this is thanks to you, because
art reflects the state of the soul and supports it from the inside.</p><p> Thank you very much. Congratulations.</p> Winners of the 2023 Presidential prizes for young culture professionals and for writing and art for children and young people announcedhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/736952024-03-22T17:18:06+04:002024-03-22T13:30:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin signed executive orders awarding the 2023 Presidential Prize for Young Culture Professionals and the 2023 Presidential Prize for Writing and Art for Children and Young People.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/Yztbq9VQul6AdI1si8lMhEvA8cpc455U.jpg" alt="Presidential Adviser Vladimir Tolstoy." /> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin signed executive orders awarding the 2023 Presidential Prize for Young Culture Professionals and the 2023 Presidential Prize for Writing and Art for Children and Young People.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/Yztbq9VQul6AdI1si8lMhEvA8cpc455U.jpg" alt="Presidential Adviser Vladimir Tolstoy." /> <p>Presidential Adviser Vladimir Tolstoy announced the winners at a special briefing.</p> Meeting of the working group to prepare a meeting of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sporthttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/736452024-03-12T19:26:30+04:002024-03-12T15:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Presidential Aide, Deputy Chair of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport Igor Levitin and Chelyabinsk Region Governor, head of the working group Alexei Teksler co-chaired a meeting of the working group on preparations for a Council meeting to discuss the role of NGOs in the development of physical culture and sport.</p></div> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Presidential Aide, Deputy Chair of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport Igor Levitin and Chelyabinsk Region Governor, head of the working group Alexei Teksler co-chaired a meeting of the working group on preparations for a Council meeting to discuss the role of NGOs in the development of physical culture and sport.</p></div> <p>The meeting was attended by representatives
from the Presidential Executive Office, the Government Executive Office, the Federal
Assembly, federal and regional executive government bodies, Russian national sports
federations, joint-stock companies, and other organisations.</p><p>In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin
set the goals in preparing a regular session of the Presidential Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport. </p><p>The participants discussed proposals
on improving legislation regulating the activities of sports NGOs in today’s conditions.
They determined the next steps in the preparations for the Council.</p><p>The participants noted the need to streamline organisational conditions for developing government and public
management of sports, determine economic and financial indicators of the correlation between state and private funding, and support high competitiveness
of Russian sports in the international sports arena. </p><p> During the discussion, special attention was paid
to interaction of international and Russian sports federations, professional
sports leagues, sports clubs, and fitness and sports societies, and to specifying
their authorities and responsibility for developing physical culture and sports.</p> 2nd Big Assembly of Russian Cossackshttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/735862024-03-01T19:27:24+04:002024-02-28T12:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>The 2<sup>nd</sup> Big
Assembly of Russian Cossacks took place in the congress hall at the Cathedral
of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/j53iKAztILcvLohRW8XuBn1BZBhvOOf3.jpg" alt="The 2nd Big Assembly of Russian Cossacks took place in the congress hall at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow." /> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>The 2<sup>nd</sup> Big
Assembly of Russian Cossacks took place in the congress hall at the Cathedral
of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/j53iKAztILcvLohRW8XuBn1BZBhvOOf3.jpg" alt="The 2nd Big Assembly of Russian Cossacks took place in the congress hall at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow." /> <p>Presidential Aide and Chairman of the Presidential Council for Cossack
Affairs Dmitry Mironov noted in his speech that the event was attended by Cossacks from various regions of the country who are united by a strong
patriotic attitude and their faith in their own strength and in the ability to win. Mironov also stressed that the Cossacks are true to President Vladimir
Putin’s policies for a more prosperous Russia. </p><p>Head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs Igor Barinov, First Deputy
Minister of the Interior Alexander Gorovoi, Head of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Sergei Menyailo, and members of the Presidential Council for Cossack Affairs were honorary guests at the event.</p><p>The assembly brought together over 1,200 people, including atamans and Cossacks from military Cossack societies and national Cossack associations. Universities
were represented by students from the Association of Cossack Universities, and students
at the Cossack Cadet Corps and secondary education institutions. </p><p> Following the Big Assembly, a resolution was
adopted in which the participants expressed support for the President’s
policies, and they decided to establish the Council of Atamans of Russia as a coordinating body to unite Russian Cossacks, and also identified priority areas
of activity to unite Russian Cossacks.</p> Meeting on supporting the development of educational organisations that implement programmes on cultural and historical traditions and values of Russian Cossackshttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/734812024-02-19T21:04:42+04:002024-02-16T16:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Presidential Aide, Chairman
of the Presidential Council for Cossack Affairs Dmitry Mironov held a meeting
on supporting the development of educational organisations that implement
programmes on cultural and historical traditions and values of Russian Cossacks.
</p></div> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Presidential Aide, Chairman
of the Presidential Council for Cossack Affairs Dmitry Mironov held a meeting
on supporting the development of educational organisations that implement
programmes on cultural and historical traditions and values of Russian Cossacks.
</p></div> <p>In his opening remarks, Dmitry
Mironov noted the importance of supporting public initiatives to develop Cossack
cadet schools and improving interaction between the All-Russian Cossack Society
and educational organisations engaged in the patriotic upbringing of the youth.
He also emphasised the high importance of working in education to implement the tasks outlined in the Russian Federation State Policy Strategy Regarding
Russian Cossacks for 2021–2030.</p><p>The meeting was attended by Presidential
Plenipotentiary Envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District, Deputy Chairman
of the Council Yury Chaika, Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov, Deputy
Minister of Science and Higher Education Konstantin Mogilevsky, Accounts
Chamber auditor Svetlana Orlova, Ataman of the All-Russian Cossack Society
Vitaly Kuznetsov, State Duma deputies, atamans of military Cossack societies,
as well as representatives of regional bodies of executive authority, and heads
of Cossack cadet schools, and other organisations.</p><p> Following the meeting, relevant decisions were adopted.
</p> Greetings to participants and organisers of Lyzhnya Rossii (Russian Ski Track) nationwide mass ski racehttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/734242024-02-10T15:45:58+04:002024-02-10T12:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin sent
greetings to the participants, organisers and guests of the Lyzhnya Rossii (Russian
Ski Track) nationwide mass ski race.</p></div> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin sent
greetings to the participants, organisers and guests of the Lyzhnya Rossii (Russian
Ski Track) nationwide mass ski race.</p></div> <p>The message reads, in part:</p><p>“Since its first race in 1982, the competition has
grown into a major sports festival, widely celebrated in many regions of our
country. The event, which unites enthusiasts of different ages and generations,
and even entire families, is rightfully considered to be one of the most
successful projects in the popular physical fitness movement.</p><p> I am confident that Lyzhnya Rossii will traditionally
be held at a high organisational and creative level, becoming an exciting and memorable
event for sports fans and avid supporters of a healthy and active lifestyle.”</p> Meeting of the Council for Science and Educationhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/734072024-02-08T22:00:23+04:002024-02-08T17:10:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>On Russian Science Day,
Vladimir Putin is holding a meeting of the Presidential Council for Science and Education via video conference. The agenda includes the revised Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, financial
support for Russian science, and advancing the activities of the Russian
Science Foundation.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/nda5bfZBPtV8FAsWR0HhLoQU0KSNNUJW.jpg" alt="During a meeting of Council for Science and Education (via videoconference)." /> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>On Russian Science Day,
Vladimir Putin is holding a meeting of the Presidential Council for Science and Education via video conference. The agenda includes the revised Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, financial
support for Russian science, and advancing the activities of the Russian
Science Foundation.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/nda5bfZBPtV8FAsWR0HhLoQU0KSNNUJW.jpg" alt="During a meeting of Council for Science and Education (via videoconference)." /> <p><b>President of Russia Vladimir Putin</b>: Good afternoon, friends.</p><p>As is customary, we are holding this
council meeting on Russian Science Day which was established to commemorate the founding of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which turns 300 years today.</p><p>Before we get to work, I would like
to wish a happy professional holiday to the council members and your
colleagues, in fact, all Russian scientists, and offer my best wishes on the occasion of the academy’s anniversary to you and all our people whose interests
science is meant to serve. Three hundred years is a big round number. In the truest sense of the word, science is the bedrock of growth and progress. The research
and technology sphere is crucial for achieving our national goals, improving
quality of life, and ensuring our country’s security, sovereignty and self-sufficiency.</p><p>In light of new challenges and goals,
we need to identify the best approaches, principles, and areas of work in fundamental research and applied innovations for the years to come.</p><p>As a reminder, we agreed to amend
the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development at the previous council
meeting. I propose discussing its revised version today.</p><p>Following our discussion, please
update and amend it accordingly and, within a week, submit for signature the draft Executive Order approving this key document. To reiterate, we agreed that
in terms of its importance this document is tantamount to the National Security
Strategy.</p><p>It is critically important in this
regard that the decision to amend the strategy was made based on the profound
political and technological transformations underway around the world and the unprecedented sanctions pressure on our country.</p><p>It is also obvious that the priorities of scientific and technological advancement should be closely linked
to key economic, social and security challenges and objectives, should promote and ensure Russia’s sovereignty in every sense: a sovereign state, values, industry
and definitely technology.</p><p>I would like to reiterate: we need
to provide ourselves with our own technologies, key components, materials, tools
and equipment in every key area – in every domain important for the country’s
development and for improving its citizens’ quality of life – to be able to manufacture the entire range of necessary products. But in markets where we
have, or will have, unique competencies, we need to aim for leading global positions.</p><p>These approaches, which are clearly
stated in the updated draft Strategy, should guide us in the implementation of our scientific and technological agenda.</p><p>In this regard, I believe it expedient
to compile an updated list of the most important and necessary science-intensive
technologies and generally actualise the priorities for domestic science.</p><p>I ask the Government together and the Presidium of the Council for Science and Education to draft relevant
proposals, while also taking into account the long-term forecast of scientific
and technological development. We will review this work at the next meeting of the Council in summer.</p><p>Colleagues,</p><p>The priorities outlined in the draft
Strategy clearly require fundamentally new approaches to the financing of science.</p><p>I would like to highlight something obvious
but really important: any scientific programme’s efficiency should be measured
by products, technologies, and qualitative changes in the economy and in people’s
lives.</p><p>I can say that we already have success
stories where such significant and much needed results were achieved through joint
efforts by the state, science and business.</p><p>I can cite many examples, but with regard
to food security, Russian scientists and breeders have achieved outstanding
success. After we lost much of our breeding industry in the 1990s, we are now witnessing
an increase in the number of domestic poultry farms breeding our own meat breed
of chickens, known as Smena-9. </p><p>There is another major achievement in a whole different area which is nuclear energy. Rosatom has begun assembling the world’s first nuclear waste-free energy complex with a closed fuel cycle which relies
on groundbreaking principles and the latest environmentally friendly technology
based on conventional nuclear energy, and thermonuclear energy.</p><p>We must achieve substantial and convincing results in other areas of our economy as well. All-round support
must be provided to the efforts to achieve them and to comply with the deadlines, including the use of effective mechanisms for appropriating funds dedicated
to scientific research.</p><p>In this regard, I would like to discuss
the Russian Science Foundation. We will discuss the strategy to promote its
activities today as well. Notably, the foundation is usually very selective
with regard to projects and research outcomes and boasts best practices when it
comes to scientific expertise, so it is critically important for it to continue
to operate as an effective vehicle for supporting researchers, including young researchers
who are beginning their careers.</p><p>We have expanded the foundation’s
mandate. In addition to supporting fundamental research, it has been funding
key applied projects since 2023.</p><p>It has material results to show in this department as well. Last year, innovative technical solutions made it
possible to significantly increase the production of super-high-frequency
electronic equipment. The first items based on domestically produced photonic
integrated circuits will go to market, and Russia will improve its
self-sufficiency in electronics. The Government is working hard on these matters.</p><p>These impressive results were due to the fruitful cooperation with major companies and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, among other things. And so I ask other ministries, government agencies, and state corporations to cooperate with the Russian Science Foundation more actively,
to build long-term partnerships.</p><p>In this regard, I propose that civilian
science projects be selected on a competitive basis by the Russian Science
Foundation. This is the first point.</p><p>Second. I believe we need to increase funding for applied projects supported by the foundation, but not by redistributing state science and technology programme resources – we need to explore other funding options.</p><p>I know this may be challenging, as I was talking with the Government about the budget only yesterday. We discussed our
priorities, so I know. But still, we need to think about it, and we need to move in this direction, while keeping unchanged the amount of support for the foundation’s
fundamental programmes.</p><p>I would like to make a general
comment about the financing of domestic science. Russia is one of the leading
countries in terms of public spending on science. I cannot say where exactly we
stand in this, but in general this is true – Russia occupies one of the top spots.
Furthermore, I would like to note that the total amount of government spending
on civilian research and development will exceed 1.5 trillion rubles in the next three years.</p><p>In this year’s budget, we have added
allocations for the development of science. But anyone familiar with the funding
process or with science, can see that in real terms, spending on science is
slightly down this year, adjusted for inflation, and it is also a smaller percentage
of GDP.</p><p>Therefore, I ask the Government to consider
expanding financial support for Russian science. This is a very important
issue. It is of fundamental importance, crucial for progress in every area. Our
national development goals, the ones we keep talking about, as we should, are also
unlikely to be met without solving the challenges in the domain that we are discussing
today. It is unlikely that we will be able to achieve these goals, the high bar
we have set for ourselves.</p><p>Let us move on to the agenda. </p><p> <…></p> Winners of 2023 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists announcedhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/733962024-02-07T16:17:01+04:002024-02-07T11:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>The names of the winners
were announced by Presidential Aide Andrei Fursenko and Chair of the Coordinating Council for Youth Affairs in the Sphere of Science and Education
under the Presidential Council for Science and Education Nikita Marchenkov.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/DcYfMAEhQZMvXK4yUA5bv4EfhKu41A0o.jpg" alt="Winners of the 2023 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists announced. Presidential Aide Andrei Fursenko at a special news conference." /> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>The names of the winners
were announced by Presidential Aide Andrei Fursenko and Chair of the Coordinating Council for Youth Affairs in the Sphere of Science and Education
under the Presidential Council for Science and Education Nikita Marchenkov.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/DcYfMAEhQZMvXK4yUA5bv4EfhKu41A0o.jpg" alt="Winners of the 2023 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists announced. Presidential Aide Andrei Fursenko at a special news conference." /> <p>The prize, established
in 2008, is awarded to young Russian scientists for making a significant
contribution to developing domestic science, and creating new equipment and technologies that ensure the innovative development of the economy and the social sphere, as well as strengthening Russia’s defence capability.</p><p>Earlier in the day, Vladimir
Putin signed Executive Order On Awarding the 2023 Presidential Prize in Science
and Innovation for Young Scientists.</p> Greetings to the participants in events marking the 10th anniversary of the 22nd Olympic Winter Games and the 11th Paralympic Winter Gameshttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/733992024-02-07T14:43:09+04:002024-02-07T10:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin sent his
greetings to the participants in events marking the 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary
of the 22<sup>nd</sup> Olympic Winter Games and the 11<sup>th</sup> Paralympic
Winter Games and congratulated them on Winter Sports Day.</p></div> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin sent his
greetings to the participants in events marking the 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary
of the 22<sup>nd</sup> Olympic Winter Games and the 11<sup>th</sup> Paralympic
Winter Games and congratulated them on Winter Sports Day.</p></div> <p>The message reads, in part:</p><p>“It is here in Sochi that the Olympic
flame was ignited ten years ago, on February 7, 2014. Congratulations on the 10<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of this outstanding and unforgettable event.</p><p>We came together as a single nation
to prepare these sporting events in all their grandeur and did everything to make
sure that the 22<sup>nd</sup> Olympic Winter Games and the 11<sup>th</sup> Paralympic
Winter Games were held to the highest standards by building one-of-a-kind sport
facilities and creating cutting-edge transport, resort and entertainment infrastructure
in the beautiful and welcoming city of Sochi. It was thanks to these creative
and effective efforts that the Olympic dream came true for millions of Russians. The 22<sup>nd</sup> Olympic Winter Games and the 11<sup>th</sup> Paralympic
Winter Games became a true celebration of sport and friendship, a display of a triumphant spirit, character and will.</p><p> The fact that Sochi’s vast Olympic legacy continues
to serve people cannot be underestimated. Famous stadiums, arenas and ice
palaces host major social, cultural and sporting events. This is where new
champions are born and new records are set. The 12<sup>th</sup> Winter Spartakiad
for Russian students, as well as meetings of outstanding athletes, coaches and mentors with talented young people taking place here these days prove this.”</p> Meeting with Russian coordinators in the G20 engagement groupshttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/733562024-01-31T22:28:17+04:002024-01-25T18:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Representative
of the President of Russia in the G20, Deputy Head of the Experts’ Department
Svetlana Lukash held a meeting with national coordinators in the G20 engagement
groups and representatives of relevant ministries.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/IZ5Hcx9RrULGOormSIlcM77lh90yO812.jpg" alt="Representative (Sherpa) of the President of Russia in the G20, Deputy Head of the Experts’ Department Svetlana Lukash with Russian coordinators in the G20 engagement groups and representatives of relevant ministries." /> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Representative
of the President of Russia in the G20, Deputy Head of the Experts’ Department
Svetlana Lukash held a meeting with national coordinators in the G20 engagement
groups and representatives of relevant ministries.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/IZ5Hcx9RrULGOormSIlcM77lh90yO812.jpg" alt="Representative (Sherpa) of the President of Russia in the G20, Deputy Head of the Experts’ Department Svetlana Lukash with Russian coordinators in the G20 engagement groups and representatives of relevant ministries." /> <p>During the meeting, the participants discussed in detail the priorities of Brazil’s G20 Presidency aimed at intensifying multilateral
efforts to overcome inequality, famine and poverty, preserving the environment
and climate, and increasing the role of the global majority countries in international institutions. Svetlana Lukash described Russia’s fundamental guidelines
when working in this leading forum of global economic governance and emphasised
the role of public initiatives in meeting Russia’s interests.</p><p>The participants agreed to cooperate in increasing
the efficiency of our country’s activities on both the official negotiating
track and in non-government forum interaction formats, including during
preparation by the G20 engagement groups of recommendations for the G20 heads
of state and government summit. The meeting stressed the importance of ensuring
the G20’s depoliticised functioning, overcoming confrontational trends and consolidating the positions of the developing nations in this association.</p><p>G20 engagement groups have been created to consider
the interests of all parties concerned in G20 decision-making and ensure the transparency and inclusivity in the forum’s work. At present, there are 12
official engagement groups: C20 (civil
society); T20 (think tanks); Y20 (youth); W20 (women); L20 (work); U20
(cities); B20 (business); S20 (science); Startup20 (startups); P20
(parliaments); SAI20 (supreme audit institutions); and J20 (supreme courts).</p> Congratulations to the winner of the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2023 Valentina Guninahttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/732482024-01-10T21:47:31+04:002024-01-10T19:30:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin
congratulated Valentina Gunina, the winner of the World Rapid and Blitz Chess
Championships 2023 in Samarkand.</p></div> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin
congratulated Valentina Gunina, the winner of the World Rapid and Blitz Chess
Championships 2023 in Samarkand.</p></div> <p>The message reads, in part:</p><p> “You confidently passed the tournament distance,
you were stronger than your famous rivals and rightfully became a two-time
world blitz champion. Your success is a bright, significant page in the victorious chronicle of the Russian school of chess.”</p> Congratulations to winner of the 2023 World Rapid Chess Championship Anastasia Bodnarukhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/731952023-12-29T21:44:29+04:002023-12-28T20:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin
congratulated Anastasia Bodnaruk on her victory at the 2023 World Rapid
Chess Championship in Samarkand.</p></div> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin
congratulated Anastasia Bodnaruk on her victory at the 2023 World Rapid
Chess Championship in Samarkand.</p></div> <p>The message
reads, in part:</p><p>“You have fittingly
continued the remarkable traditions of the domestic school of women’s chess, demonstrated
your skill, endurance and true sporting character in taking on strong, renowned
rivals, and you have deservedly become the winner of the most prestigious
international competitions. And, of course, special words of gratitude go to your
mentors, to all those who have supported you on the road to success.”</p> Meeting of Interdepartmental Commission to support Russia’s participation in the G20http://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/731892023-12-28T14:16:05+04:002023-12-27T19:00:00+04:00 <p>Russia’s
Presidential Representative (Sherpa) in the Group of Twenty, Deputy Chief of the Expert Directorate Svetlana Lukash held a regular meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission to support Russia’s participation in the Group of Twenty. The meeting was attended by executives from the relevant Russian
ministries and agencies.</p><p>The participants emphasised the importance of the G20 as a leading economic diplomacy mechanism. Even in the current geopolitical confrontation, it offers an effective tool for promoting
Russia’s interests and priorities on all matters pertaining to the global
agenda. The commission praised India’s G20 chairmanship and noted the constructive ties with our Indian partners, including in the preparation of the Delhi Summit and the drafting of its outcome documents.</p><p>The participants pointed out that
the initiatives put forward by Brazil as the next G20 chair are aligned with
Russia’s approaches and reaffirmed their commitment to proactively fulfil this
agenda which consists of ensuring sustainable, balanced and inclusive global
economic growth, advancing sustainable development goals, fighting climate
change and preserving the environment, improving food and energy security,
promoting the digital transition, and ensuring fair reforms of global economic
governance institutions.</p><p> By the end of the meeting, its participants had outlined
specific tasks to make inter-agency coordination even more effective when conducting
negotiations to enable Russia to be more active within the G20 in order to ensure a balanced outcome for the Rio de Janeiro Summit, scheduled to take
place on November 18 and 19, 2024.</p> Meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projectshttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/730832023-12-22T08:42:24+04:002023-12-21T15:10:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin held a meeting
of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects, via videoconference.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/n9CKI41KgufCLJ1sCUchyszWrBpJPJ6j.jpg" alt="During a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects (via videoconference)." /> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin held a meeting
of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects, via videoconference.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/n9CKI41KgufCLJ1sCUchyszWrBpJPJ6j.jpg" alt="During a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects (via videoconference)." /> <p>The meeting was held to review the implementation of <a href="/events/president/news/73083">instructions</a> issued
at a <a href="/events/president/news/73083">meeting</a> of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects
held a year ago.</p><p>First
Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov gave a keynote presentation on expanding
foreign economic cooperation with prospective partners from friendly states and developing the infrastructure necessary for such cooperation, including transport and transaction
infrastructure. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis
Manturov’s report addressed strengthening the technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation.
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov reported on ensuring the financial sovereignty
of the Russian Federation.
Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin spoke about the advanced development of the country's transport, utilities and social infrastructure. Deputy Prime
Minister Tatyana Golikova's speech dealt with improving the welfare of Russian
citizens, ensuring national savings, protecting maternity and childhood, and supporting families with children.</p><p>* * *</p><p><b>President of Russia Vladimir
Putin:</b> Good
afternoon, colleagues.</p><p>As always at the end
of the year, we are meeting to review results. I propose discussing implementation of the tasks set for 2023, which are part of our systemic efforts to achieve
national development goals.</p><p>I would like to point out that our national goals have been formulated
for a period until 2030 and that the review which we hold regularly at the end
of the year is not only important for assessing the current situation – what we
have done and where we are lagging behind schedule – but above all for taking
practical managerial decisions in the areas which call for special attention
and additional efforts, means and resources both at the federal level and at the regional and local levels.</p><p>Moreover, the main criterion for assessing our efficiency is public
opinion, as we have noted many times, how people view the dynamics, pace and quality of changes in their lives. I would like to draw the attention of our
colleagues to this once again.</p><p>And the results, which we achieve together, must become the basis for long-term plans.</p><p>The national projects we adopted in 2018 will end next year. This means
that we must outline national development goals and expand our planning horizon
until 2036, setting goals and determining the parameters of our development
targets that match our increased capabilities and the higher expectations of our people, which is logical. Of course, we must also prepare and launch updated
national projects in due time.</p><p>As I said, the potential we have accumulated enables us to reach a whole
new level and generate unprecedented momentum for the progress of our entire
country.</p><p>As for this year’s results, you know that tasks were formulated in the key areas, such as achieving economic sovereignty in terms of technology,
workforce, infrastructure and finance, as well as structural changes in our
foreign economic activities. This also has to do with the development of cities
and towns, the social sphere, demography, support for mothers and children, as well as the healthcare and education systems. Taken together, it means a higher
quality of life for people.</p><p>I ask my colleagues who will be
delivering reports on their subjects to keep in mind the following: in addition
to a detailed report on the implementation of the tasks set for 2023, please
focus on what needs to be done in 2024, as well as in the long term.</p><p>I want to emphasise something before
we move on to our agenda.</p><p>All our development plans for infrastructure, the social sector, and demography are as realistic as possible.
We constantly coordinate our approaches in these areas. The plans are based on the country’s economic potential and take into consideration the dynamics of its sectors, its industrial growth.</p><p>The Russian economy went through a period of adaptation to the new external environment. Our companies have kept
working steadily, they have improved their logistics and replaced certain
imported materials, including parts and components, with Russian-made
equivalents and goods made by Russian companies.</p><p>In the period of January-October
2023, the manufacturing sector grew by 7.4 percent, while investments have
increased by 10 percent over the three quarters, which means further growth
looks promising. I am speaking about the economy in general. In the manufacturing sector, investments are even higher: in January-September they
increased by 12.2 percent, and in the third quarter by 35 percent.</p><p>By the way, the “days of regions”
events have been a big success at the Russia Expo. The Russian regions have
presented their achievements and potential for further progress.</p><p>Russian companies and agencies are
now taking up the torch. I am sure that they will present their achievements
and plans in the same impressive and convincing way as the regions did.</p><p>I reiterate, we need to consolidate
the positive momentum in investment and in the overall economy. Economic
activity must satisfy the growing domestic demand in a wide array of goods and ensure an adequate supply of consumer goods, while also satisfying the investment demand for machinery, lathes, and engineering equipment.</p><p>I also want to emphasise that
building an economy of supply will help to avoid price hikes for certain goods
in the future; we are currently having such problems, as you know. Our citizens
have faced such price hikes in the past few months, we spoke about it during
the recent <a href="/events/president/news/73083">Direct Line</a>.</p><p>Let me remind you that we must raise at least 2 trillion rubles by the end of this year for projects to make priority industrial goods.</p><p>Today, I would like to hear a progress report on these objectives, as well as on the level of investment we expect to have next year and the target indicators we will set.</p><p>Today, Russia offers a unique market environment for opening cutting-edge manufacturing facilities and upgrading the existing plants, while also creating new well-paid jobs, which has special importance.</p><p>We must strive to build a high-skills, high-wage economy. This offers us a pathway to higher household incomes and overcoming poverty.</p><p>By the way, we have been quite effective on that front as well, as you know. The word poverty sounds very negative, but this indicator does exist and by this account it will be at a historical low in 2023. Still, this doesn’t mean anything to people living below the poverty line. We must reduce this figure as much as possible by striving to achieve zero poverty.</p><p>We must improve labour efficiency, and make our economy and the social sector more effective as a whole, guided by the principles of lean manufacturing, automation and digital solutions in our management practices, as well as making wider use of artificial intelligence.</p><p>In this context, I expect you to focus on the essential topic of developing the domestic industrial robotics industry in your presentations. </p><p>We need to develop new requirements for the vocational training system, to help workers, engineers and managers acquire and upgrade their skills, as well as launch new programmes and expand the existing ones.</p><p>I have already asked the Government to draft a forecast on the workforce our economy will need within a five-year horizon. It must target specific sectors and professional categories. Not only do we need to keep this forecast updated taking into consideration the situation on the labour market, but also rely on it when setting target indicators for enrolment in vocational training schools, colleges and universities, creating and developing vocational training programmes. This is a matter of principle.</p><p>I am asking the Government to devise a system to motivate educational institutions and measure the performance of their senior executives to make sure that they have the incentives they need to educate specialists for the sectors the labour market needs.</p><p>Furthermore, we are developing a system of comprehensive support for the export of Russian goods and services. We are helping our companies reorient to promising
partners in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa.
We are strengthening ties within the Eurasian Economic Union.
Incidentally, I would like to note that we are not closing the door to the American
continent, North America – the US and Canada
or to the European countries. It is time they stopped fooling around, waiting for us to collapse. It has become clear to all – if they want to profit from cooperation
with Russia,
they need to do it. After all, we are not pushing them away. But it’s up
to them, this is their decision. Let them decide for themselves what they are guided
by – some ephemeral considerations about Russia’s destruction or the interests
of their own country, their own people, in developing international relations
as a whole on the modern democratic foundations of a multi-polar world. But, again,
this is their business.</p><p>An important element of our work is the creation of an independent
financial, transaction infrastructure and broad use of national currencies in trade. </p><p>Compared with 2021, the percentage of our international
transactions using the ruble has doubled to 35 percent. If counted with the currencies
of friendly states, it’s up to 75 percent.</p><p>External sources of business loans for Russian companies are being
replaced with internal ones. In the past year, the total of corporate ruble
loans has increased by 9.5 trillion rubles. This figure has grown by over 13.5
trillion rubles since the start of the year. That said, Russia’s external debt has
decreased by about one third, which is very important. </p><p>The state is reducing its debt and the leading companies are following
suit. They are repaying loans on time and taking other actions that are making
their finances more balanced and healthier.</p><p>I will return to what I said at the recent Russia Calling forum.
In the next few years, both the Government and the Central Bank should pay more
attention to developing the mechanism of project and equity financing. Our
banking system and stock exchange should fully ensure the flow of capital into
the most important, promising growth points of the Russian economy. Maybe,
growth points is not a very good way of putting it but you understand what I am
talking about. It is necessary to pay attention to these issues.</p><p>Next, in order for domestic
businesses to expand into new markets, to establish more convenient and efficient logistics chains, and of course, to improve the transport
connectivity of the country’s regions, we are expanding infrastructure
capacities, relieving bottlenecks, and increasing border point capacities. By the way, this needs to be done in a timely manner.</p><p>The combined freight volume of our
three key logistics corridors, namely, the North-South railway and the Eastern
and the Sea of Azov-Black Sea railways is expected to grow by approximately 10
percent this year.</p><p>Undoubtedly, further development is
a top priority. Mr Belousov and I discussed this earlier today. Importantly, we
should understand how the expanded capacity of the Far Eastern and Arctic
seaports and the development of the Northern Sea Route into a global transport artery will
impact our overall logistics system.</p><p>To reiterate, these ambitious
projects will provide a powerful, positive effect on our economy, our country
as a whole, and our citizens. They will create a vast space for the long-term
growth of industries and regions, for many enterprises, and employees engaged
in the transport, construction, and other related industries. It will have a beneficial effect for everyone.</p><p>We continue to work on our agenda of infrastructure development at the regional and municipal levels. As of December 1, 83 percent of roads in major metropolitan areas have been brought up to standard.</p><p>Let me stress that we are ahead of schedule. I am hopeful that we will reach the target indicator and bring 85
percent of roads in major metropolitan areas up to code ahead of the deadline,
i.e., next year, as well. This is a tall order, but quite feasible.</p><p>We need to ensure a similarly high
pace in upgrading mass transit in the regions. By the end of next year, the average age of this fleet should be brought down by way of acquiring new buses,
trolleybuses, tram cars, and electric buses. This is a viable incentive and support for industry. So far, we have been successful in developing
infrastructure and supporting the manufacturing industry at the same time.</p><p>Up-to-date, safe, and environmentally friendly mass transit is an integral part of urban and rural
life which we strive to improve, guided by a pragmatic project-based approach.</p><p>Master plans were drafted for 22 urban
and metropolitan areas in the Far East
beginning last year. I understand that we still need to run numbers and review
certain things, but overall, the benchmarks have been outlined, and we must
strive to achieve those using targeted actions and sources of funding, of course. Similar work is underway for core communities in the Arctic.</p><p>As a reminder, we agreed to draw up
a registry of best practices for urban development and creating a comfortable
living environment where every city, town, and municipality can identify and implement effective solutions that will benefit the residents.</p><p>Additionally, I have issued an instruction
to draft uniform standards for a master plan’s structure and contents, and codify this term in urban planning legislation.</p><p>In fact, the goal is to build a holistic
system for managing communities, to bring together all mechanisms for supporting
constituent entities in this sphere, and to improve the skills of city
officials, as well as to activate effective monitoring tools, primarily the ones operated by residents and civil society. We have consistently emphasised
this. I would like the Government to expedite this work.</p><p>Colleagues, we have fully retained
the programmes aimed at achieving national development goals. Despite the challenges, difficulties, or the specific nature of the current circumstances,
we have kept them all. Moreover, this year, we provided advanced funding for many areas in order to not only support the existing pace of transformation,
but also to achieve, ahead of schedule, the targets in crucial development
areas – which we have been successful at, by the way – and to reinforce the country's sovereignty.</p><p>As you may recall, in all our
decisions and actions related to economic development, creating new jobs,
improving the look of cities, towns and villages, protecting the environment,
developing healthcare, education, culture, and sports we are guided by one goal
which is to preserve our people, to improve the well-being of Russian families,
especially families with children, and, of course, to protect public health.</p><p>Life expectancy in Russia exceeded the pre-pandemic
level in the first ten months of 2023.</p><p>The mortality rate has been
declining, including for infants, reaching an all-time low.</p><p>At the same time, as well all know,
the birth rate has been declining and we have not been able to reverse this
trend so far. Of course, there are objective reasons for this caused by the sharp demographic declines we experienced back in the 1940s during the war and in the 1990s when the Soviet Union ceased to exist.</p><p>Let me reiterate that improving our
demography will remain a priority for us for decades to come. I will repeat
that supporting families must be a priority when drafting and carrying out the national long-term development strategy and the updated national projects.
These matters must transpire through all our plans and programmes.</p><p>In 2023, we devised a single system
for supporting people in need and families with children, as I have already
said. We must keep a close eye on this topic, and we are moving in this
direction. This includes supporting women from the time they conceive a child
until he or she reaches the age of 17. Parents of more than 10.5 million
children have already applied for this benefit, and 375,000 pregnant women
receive it too.</p><p>The maternity capital benefit
remains in force.</p><p>We will improve and fine-tune other
mechanisms too. There has been positive momentum on child healthcare and housing programmes, including family mortgages. There are also tax deductions
on child education and treatments.</p><p>As we all know, 2024 will be the Year of the Family in Russia.
We designated it that for a reason. I would like to ask our colleagues in the Government and in the regions to pay as much attention as possible to protecting mothers and children, and to strengthening family values.</p><p>This includes reviving the tradition
of having three or more children in a family. As we have agreed, we need to create a status for families with many children at the federal level. This is
what people have been asking for. There is a legitimate request to provide the corresponding benefits and support mechanisms with guaranteed access across the country. We must take a decision to this effect without delay.</p><p>I suggest that we move with our
agenda. Mr Belousov, you have the floor. Go ahead, please.</p><p><b>First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov</b>: Mr President, colleagues,</p><p>In December 2022, the President
instructed the Government to expand economic cooperation with promising
partners from friendly countries and to develop the infrastructure that is
necessary to promote such cooperation, including transport and payment systems.
I will begin by providing an overall assessment of the current situation.</p><p>Since 2022, unfriendly countries
have been steadily trying to impose an economic blockade of Russia, aiming
to isolate our country from global markets. It was necessary to break through
this blockade, and we have succeeded in doing so which is evidenced primarily
by stabilised exports. The exports to markets of friendly countries exceeded
$360 billion in 2023, up 60 percent in physical terms compared to 2021. Trade
with China
reached an all-time high. As of the end of this year, Russian exports to China will exceed $110 billion, and mutual trade
between Russia and China will
reach $210 billion.</p><p>We continue to increase supplies to the EAEU and Arab countries. In physical terms, exports to these countries grew
by over 2 percent and 36 percent, respectively.</p><p>How did we manage to accomplish
this? First, we promptly restructured the system to support non-resource and non-energy exports and exports of manufactured and agricultural goods.</p><p>More than 20,000 entrepreneurs, or every fourth exporter, took advantage of the export support measures this year.
Nearly 300 export projects worth nearly $7 billion were implemented using
financing arrangements with easy terms.</p><p>Other measures include low-cost
transport. Almost 1,000 exporters took advantage of transport incentives,
enabling the realisation of export contracts worth nearly $8 billion. Insurance
support for export projects to friendly countries exceeded $10 billion.</p><p>Promoting Russian brands
internationally including through the Russian Export Centre's ”Made in Russia“
project, came as an important innovation this year. This year alone, over 1,500
Russian manufacturers took part in exhibitions and business missions.</p><p>As part of this project, the Russian
Export Centre plans to hold the first Made in Russia
festival and market in the Chinese province of Liaoning early next
year. Theme-based booths will showcase over a thousand Russian-made products
and offer an extensive cultural and sports programme. We plan to scale up this
experience going forward.</p><p>Small businesses are actively entering the markets of friendly
countries. Almost 2,500 export contracts have been signed with the assistance
of regional support centres.</p><p>In total, over 60,000 small business owners have entered foreign markets
this year, which is 1.2 times more than in 2021. </p><p>The One-Stop Shop digital system for exporters is developing, with
already 36 services available now. About 10,000 entrepreneurs are already using
the system. As a result, non-resource non-energy exports to the markets of friendly countries have grown by over 20 percent compared to 2021, and their
share in Russian exports reached 84 percent compared to 67 percent in 2021.</p><p>Second. The markets of friendly countries are what made it possible to reorient energy exports. I would like to note that restricting the supply of our energy products is one of the main goals of the collective West’s steps taken
against our country, from putting companies and ships on sanctions lists, and introducing price caps, to the sabotage on the Nord Streams.</p><p>At the same time, we are still supplying energy products, such as liquefied natural gas, pipeline oil and gas, oil products, and coal, to some
unfriendly states. But in general, supplies to unfriendly countries have
decreased 3.5 times compared to 2021, including 4.5 times to the European
Union.</p><p>We used all levers and tools at our disposal to adjust the main supply directions
of oil and oil products and, to a lesser extent, of gas where the inertia is
greater. Today we can say that the most pressing problems of last year have
generally been resolved. This primarily concerns payments and cargo insurance,
as well as ensuring the tanker fleet can transport hydrocarbons by sea. </p><p>As a result, crude oil exports exceeded the 2021 figure by 7 percent,
amounting to about 250 million tonnes. In monetary terms, Russian energy
exports have almost reached 2021 figures and remain at a level that is
comfortable for the budget and companies.</p><p>The third area includes saturating
the Russian market with essential imported goods and resources. Limiting Russia’s access
to imported goods was among the goals and was supposed to destabilise the socioeconomic situation in our country. This was extremely dangerous
considering that unfriendly countries accounted for nearly 50 percent of Russia’s
imports in 2021. However, by 2022, the share of imports from unfriendly
countries had decreased to 35 percent, and in 2023, to 29 percent. Meanwhile,
overall imports exceeded the 2021 figures and amounted to approximately $300
billion.</p><p>This was achieved by leveraging the parallel imports mechanism, under which essential products worth over $70
billion were imported in a matter of two years. Imported equipment that could
not be replaced by similar Russian-made equipment was exempted from VAT. Over
two years, Russian companies obtained benefits to the tune of 105 billion
rubles.</p><p>Import customs duties were set to zero as a blanket measure, with businesses saving over 130 billion rubles.
Preferential import duties were made available for investment projects, with
the amounts of benefits totalling 1 billion rubles.</p><p>A programme supporting top priority
imports is underway, and easy-term loans totalling 400 billion rubles have been
issued under it. With that, the goal of providing Russian enterprises and consumers with essential goods has been successfully fulfilled, and the share
of partners from friendly countries in total imports increased to 70 percent.</p><p>The fourth area includes ensuring a fundamental restructuring of export freight flows to access the markets of friendly countries. Systematic work has been carried out with regard to priority international transport corridors based on the roadmaps approved by the Government in December 2022. The progress is reviewed twice a month by the transport and logistics corridor office. This year, a total of over 550 million
tonnes of cargo will be transported using these corridors, which is 17 percent
more than in 2021. Specifically, over 300 million tonnes, 11 percent more than
in 2021, have been transported through the Eastern Corridor, around 220 million
tonnes, 24 percent more than in 2021, through the Azov-Black Sea Corridor, and around 19 million tonnes, 38 percent more than in 2021, through the North-South
Corridor.</p><p>The Eastern
Corridor is the main priority. Russian Railways – dare I say it – is making a titanic effort to expand capacity and overall traffic volume. This year they
increased capacity to 173 million tonnes, and next year it will be about 180
million tonnes – the target set in the President’s executive order.</p><p>New
specialised transport and logistics centres and auxiliary logistics platforms
have been built. By the end of the year, Russian Railways will achieve a record
number of container shipments – 7.5 million TEUs. This is a 15 percent increase
over 2021.</p><p>The problem
of queues at checkpoints has received a system-wide solution, primarily, at the borders with friendly countries. Capacity has been increased by 1.5 times. And work has been launched to upgrade highways that are part of international
corridors. </p><p>The new
highway bypasses around Krasnodar and Aksai have been completed; construction
of the Khasavyurt bypass has been launched as has the modernisation of the seaport infrastructure in Novorossiisk, Taman and Tuapse, and on inland
waterways on the Volga and Don rivers that are part of the international
transport corridors. </p><p>The dredging of the Volga-Caspian Navigation Canal
and the Port of Makhachkala has been completed in the south. This will allow ships with a draft of up to four meters to use this
canal.</p><p>Regular
railway service has been launched on the eastern section of the North-South
Corridor via Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran.</p><p>I can say
that generally all of our plans are now being carried out. We hope that by 2030, we will be able to bring freight volume via these transport corridors to almost 670 million tonnes a year, one and a half times more than 2021.</p><p>The fifth
area is the creation of the new payment infrastructure. Unfriendly actions by the United States
and its allies have encouraged an accelerated transition to foreign trade
transactions in national currencies.</p><p>In 2023,
the total share of the ruble and national currencies of the friendly countries
in transactions for the export and import of goods and services will be around
65 percent. It was only 22 percent in 2021.</p><p>The following has been done. First, correspondent banking relationships with
foreign credit institutions were sharply expanded. The number of Russian banks
that have accounts with friendly countries has almost doubled in the past two
years while the total number of such correspondent accounts increased by almost
1.5 times to over 2,000.</p><p>Second,
transactions between countries started using financial information exchange
channels other than SWIFT, primarily, the Bank of Russia’s Financial Messaging
System. At present, 150 non-resident banks from 16 countries are using this
system.</p><p>Third, the stock exchange is offering ten currencies from friendly countries to make
settlement of accounts in national currencies easier.</p><p>Fourth,
digital assets are beginning to be used in foreign trade transactions.
Eventually, bilateral transactions will be made with the digital ruble and other banking currencies of central banks. The Bank of Russia is making rapid
progress in implementing this project.</p><p>Fifth,
acceptance of the Mir payment card abroad is an important element in the payment infrastructure. Today, Mir cards are accepted in ten countries. Talks
on this issue are underway with a number of other countries.</p><p>Mr
President, colleagues, </p><p>The tentative results of the year give us reason to say that the Russian economy
has adapted to the sanctions pressure overall. By developing effective
interaction with our partners from friendly states and prompt development of the necessary instruments for supporting Russian businesses, we have managed to preserve the country’s export potential and provide people and companies with
the necessary goods and resources.</p><p>In general,
it is possible to say that the Russian economy has found a balance between
exports and imports. This is evidenced by the stabilisation of the currency at 90 rubles per dollar. This is acceptable for exports and the consumer and investment markets in the country. All of this will allow us to turn from quick
solutions to the strategic agenda. </p><p>Under the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, we are completing the drafting of the strategy
for the development of the foreign economic activities of the Russian Federation up to 2030. </p><p>The goal of the Strategy is to position Russia
among the leaders of a multipolar world which carries out its own national
development agenda and ensures its economic, financial, and technological
sovereignty. Once implemented, the Strategy should securely establish Russia in the new markets for it to fully realise its foreign economic potential, to build a network of partnerships with friendly countries, to facilitate technological
cooperation in order to modernise the industrial and technological base, and to create a workable multilateral infrastructure to support foreign economic
relations.</p><p>The draft Strategy was reviewed last
week during a strategic session with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
According to the deadline, the Strategy will be approved before March 1, 2024.</p><p>Thank you for your time.</p><p><…></p><p><b>Vladimir Putin</b>:
We know there are issues that need extra time before they can be resolved.
However, in general, I will not delve into details, there are many issues that
need our attention, and it just makes sense with the volume of work at hand.
There are many issues to address in the social sphere, the economy, and finance, since we need to enhance the balance and stability of the financial
system and in other areas as well.</p><p>But overall, the state of affairs is
satisfactory. We have achieved the targets almost across all areas that we
consider top priorities and are most important for ensuring the country’s
sustainable progress and improving people's well-being.</p><p>To reiterate, the more we
accomplish, the more horizons open revealing what else needs to be done. This is
absolutely clear, and it is how things are. There is no way around it, and we
just should be happy to see new tasks emerge that we need to deal with.</p><p>However, without a doubt, the people
expect us to deliver not on paper, as I have said many times, but in their everyday
life.</p><p>I think that the pace that the Government has reached clearly shows that we are capable of overcoming these
challenges.</p><p>I would like to thank you for the good work and express hope that we will continue to work without losing tempo,
including on issues that need extra attention. This is what I would like to close with.</p><p> Thank you very much. All the best.</p> Meeting of the Council for Interethnic Relations Presidiumhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/730882023-12-22T18:43:12+04:002023-12-20T16:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Magomedsalam Magomedov chaired a meeting of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations Presidium held to review the results of the council’s performance in 2023.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/Aq1sCXGzERJmADNzpAx2TQi0ju2eueYQ.jpg" alt="Meeting of the Council for Interethnic Relations Presidium." /> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Magomedsalam Magomedov chaired a meeting of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations Presidium held to review the results of the council’s performance in 2023.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/Aq1sCXGzERJmADNzpAx2TQi0ju2eueYQ.jpg" alt="Meeting of the Council for Interethnic Relations Presidium." /> <p>Magomedsalam Magomedov emphasised the importance of continuing efforts
to enhance civil accord and unity among Russia’s multinational people, to strengthen the responsibility of all branches and levels of authority and public institutions and their attention to interethnic peace and accord, and to prevent any manifestations of discrimination and extremism based on ethnicity
and religion.</p><p>The participants heard a report by the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs
on the implementation of the council’s resolutions and instructions of the head
of state and discussed current issues related to state ethnic policy as part of preparations for the council’s next meeting in 2024.</p><p>Chair of the All-Russian Public Organisation Assembly of the Peoples of Russia – leader of the United Russia party in the State Duma Vladimir Vasilyev
briefed the Presidium members on the assembly’s performance in 2023 and plans
for 2024.</p><p> Relevant decisions were taken following the meeting.</p> Meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Implementation of the National Programme to Assist the Voluntary Resettlement in Russia of Compatriots Currently Living Abroadhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/732802024-01-19T10:13:15+04:002023-12-15T18:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev chaired the 32<sup>nd</sup>
meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Implementation
of the National Programme to Assist the Voluntary Resettlement in Russia of Compatriots Currently Living Abroad.</p></div> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev chaired the 32<sup>nd</sup>
meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Implementation
of the National Programme to Assist the Voluntary Resettlement in Russia of Compatriots Currently Living Abroad.</p></div> <p>The meeting was attended by deputies
and aides of the plenipotentiary presidential representatives in the federal districts,
heads of federal executive authorities, Magadan Region Deputy Prime Minister Andrei
Belozertsev and Sverdlovsk Region Deputy Governor Vasily Kozlov.</p><p>Opening the meeting, Vladimir
Kolokoltsev informed the participants about the entry in force of the new
citizenship law. It allows participants in the national programme to acquire
citizenship without first obtaining a temporary or permanent residence permit.
To become Russian citizens, they will only need to present documents confirming
their knowledge of the Russian language, history and the foundations of Russian
law.</p><p>The Interior Minister emphasised that
the law expanded the list of crimes resulting in the termination of citizenship. </p><p>The participants discussed ways of helping
compatriots that would like to move to Russia from the territory of unfriendly
states. It was noted that since May 2022, one third of the over 5,000
applications have been submitted by compatriots living in unfriendly
countries. </p><p>The established feedback mechanisms make
it possible to promptly amend the current legislation to reflect the needs of potential immigrants. Thus, Presidential Executive Order No. 547 signed on August 12, 2022, granted compatriots from unfriendly countries the right to use the national programme and submit their applications in the country of their stay
rather than residence, as is the rule for other categories of compatriots
living abroad. This amendment almost doubled the number of potential immigrants.</p><p>Speakers noted the importance of upgrading
mechanisms of the national programme to improve the conditions for the relocation
of compatriots. On November 22, 2023, the President signed his Executive Order No.
872 on introducing the institution of repatriation since January 1, 2024. It simplifies
the relocation of compatriots to the territory of any Russian region, including
Moscow, St Petersburg and the Moscow Region without approval of authorised
regional bodies.</p><p> The meeting participants deemed it expedient to continue
work on improving the process of the relocation of compatriots as part of implementing the State Migration Policy Concept of the Russian Federation for 2019–2025.
</p> Meeting of Commission for Development of General-Purpose Aviation and GLONASS-based Navigation and Information Technologyhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/729952023-12-15T15:41:33+04:002023-12-14T17:30:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Presidential Aide, State
Council Secretary Igor Levitin held a meeting of the Presidential Commission
for the Development of General-Purpose Aviation and GLONASS-based Navigation
and Information Technology to discuss the proposals drafted by the Commission
on the Implementation of the Unmanned Aviation Development Strategy and the Unmanned Aviation Systems national project.</p></div> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Presidential Aide, State
Council Secretary Igor Levitin held a meeting of the Presidential Commission
for the Development of General-Purpose Aviation and GLONASS-based Navigation
and Information Technology to discuss the proposals drafted by the Commission
on the Implementation of the Unmanned Aviation Development Strategy and the Unmanned Aviation Systems national project.</p></div> <p>The meeting was attended by Head of the Republic of Buryatia, Head of the State Council Commission on Transport Alexei Tsydenov,
senior officials from federal and regional government bodies, as well as representatives of development institutions and the expert community.</p><p>In his remarks, Mr Levitin said that in 2023
the Government of the Russian Federation has done significant work on drafting
strategic documents for the development of unmanned aviation systems in keeping
with the Presidential instructions.</p><p>The meeting’s agenda covered key proposals for carrying out the strategy and the national project, as well as the specific
solutions they put forth in terms of streamlining the certification process for unmanned aviation systems; creating an optimal environment for operating these
systems and flights; setting priorities in organising and managing air traffic
in the Russian Federation; and adhering to international standards and ICAO’s
recommended practices.</p><p> The Commission will submit resolutions resulting
from this meeting to the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government Commission for Developing Unmanned Aviation Systems so that they can
be incorporated into the national project and the plans for implementing the Strategy.</p> Meeting of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rightshttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/729052023-12-22T21:24:39+04:002023-12-04T22:40:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>The President held the annual meeting of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, via videoconference.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/nsHjRRcyWEigtysarXBpGgZt00djbIyA.jpg" alt="Meeting of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights (via videoconference)." /> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>The President held the annual meeting of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, via videoconference.</p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/nsHjRRcyWEigtysarXBpGgZt00djbIyA.jpg" alt="Meeting of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights (via videoconference)." /> <p><i>Excerpts from transcript
of meeting of Council for Civil Society and Human Rights</i></p><p><b>President of Russia Vladimir Putin:</b> Good afternoon, colleagues,</p><p>I am happy to welcome all of you to our meeting,
which is traditionally held on the eve of Human Rights Day. This date is certainly
important to each of you, our Council as a whole and, I think, for our society
as well.</p><p>I know that you not only analyse law enforcement
practice, law-making and other issues of general
nature, but also spend much
time and effort helping people in specific situations; you respond to their requests
to help them find a fair solution to their problems.</p><p>Of course, I am grateful to you for your caring
attitude to this cause, for your sincere generosity, patience, your ability to convince
others in your position, and, if necessary, your firm stand and persistence,
and a striving to listen to all parties and to find compromises.</p><p>All these traits are of tremendous importance in the human rights cause. You have these traits in full measure and achieve a lot
because of them. Thank you and your colleagues at both the federal level and in the regions – for your much needed and noble activities.</p><p>I would also like to tell you that the Council
has undergone a planned rotation. The relevant executive order was signed
recently. The Council now includes five members – they are prominent people in the field of human rights and civil society development. I would like to wish you
success and, most importantly, to join the Council’s current determined effort as soon as possible.</p><p>Colleagues, at our meeting a year ago we had an in-depth discussion on issues that are particularly important in our uneasy
times. The discussion was lengthy and frank. Much has been done to address almost
every issue you brought up: instructions have been given to the relevant
ministries and departments, while the regional authorities received
recommendations. Much, as I said, has been done while some issues are still
being looked into. Today, we will listen to detailed information about the status of the instructions. </p><p>One of the major and traditional efforts of the Council’s activities is protection of people’s social rights. This year special
attention has been given to teachers’ working conditions, including their
salaries, efforts to improve prestige of teaching, and the level of equipment at educational establishments. </p><p>I believe our Council needs to keep addressing
these issues. For example, you came up with a proposal to prepare a new single
social sciences textbook and later joined this work. Of course, this deserves
support. I believe your experience in human rights activities is definitely
needed here. </p><p>Today, of course, one of the main issues the Council
is addressing is support for our servicepeople, our men and women on the frontlines, our heroes. Present here are Council members who have been to the special
military operation zone more than once.</p><p>At the previous meeting you raised the issue of targeted support for the participants in the special military operation and their families. This year, the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation was
established, with its branches opened in every region. It is
important that you work closely with them. </p><p>I am aware that you regularly go to Donbass and Novorossiya, meet with local people, know what their concerns are. I ask you to speak openly and in detail about matters that need additionally consideration
and resolution.</p><p>Colleagues, at our meeting a year ago we had an in-depth discussion on issues that are particularly important in our uneasy
times. The discussion was lengthy and frank. Much has been done to address almost
every issue you brought up: instructions have been given to the relevant
ministries and departments, while the regional authorities received
recommendations. Much, as I said, has been done while some issues are still
being looked into. Today, we will listen to detailed information about the status of the instructions. </p><p>One of the major and traditional efforts of the Council’s activities is protection of people’s social rights. This year special
attention has been given to teachers’ working conditions, including their
salaries, efforts to improve prestige of teaching, and the level of equipment at educational establishments. </p><p>I believe our Council needs to keep addressing
these issues. For example, you came up with a proposal to prepare a new single
social sciences textbook and later joined this work. Of course, this deserves
support. I believe your experience in human rights activities is definitely
needed here. </p><p>Today, of course, one of the main issues the Council
is addressing is support for our servicepeople, our men and women on the frontlines, our heroes. Present here are Council members who have been to the special
military operation zone more than once.</p><p>At the previous meeting you raised the issue of targeted support for the participants in the special military operation and their families. This year, the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation was
established, with its branches opened in every region. It is
important that you work closely with them. </p><p>I am aware that you regularly go to Donbass and Novorossiya, meet with local people, know what their concerns are. I ask you to speak openly and in detail about matters that need additionally consideration
and resolution.</p><p>Colleagues, on December 10, it will be 75 years
since the UN adopted its Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Unfortunately, we
are observing this anniversary against the backdrop of the continuing
degradation of the international system for the protection and promotion of human rights. Its institutions, which are being de facto controlled by the West,
demonstrate political bias, hypocrisy and undisguised selectiveness. Thus, for eight
years we have seen how helpless they are and how directly they ignore glaring
violations as regards the people of Donbass.</p><p>These structures not only “fail to notice” but also
even encourage manifestations of Russophobia and support the countries that are
hurrying to win first place in this disgraceful competition of Russophobes. </p><p>As you know, Russia has withdrawn from a number
of international human rights organisations. However, this does not mean that we
are rejecting the principles of the Declaration. On the contrary, we are willing
to cooperate with any interested country or partner and find solutions to create an effective, fair, and equal system for the protection of human rights.</p><p>As we have noted, civilian institutions are
more flexible and, hence, better adapted to a prompt search for possible
solutions in this area. The Council has already taken certain steps in this respect.
Thus, it hosted an international conference on this subject in November.
Needless to say, it is necessary to continue the intensive effort in this area.</p><p>I would like to emphasise, in particular, that our
Council has noticeably increased its influence in the past few years. Much is associated
with its name and many people in both public organisations and government structures
take into account the Council’s opinions. This is primarily facilitated, of course,
by your focus on the essence of the most complicated problems and your ability
to hold a dialogue with different departments and civil society agencies and jointly achieve concrete results.</p><p>I would like to wish you success in these endeavours
in the interests of civil society and all Russian people. Let’s discuss issues that
you consider the most important today.</p><p>Now I would like to give the floor to Mr
Fadeyev.</p><p><…></p><p><b>Vladimir Putin</b>: <i>(Commenting on the report by the Chair of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights Valery Fadeyev who spoke
about migrant labour and environmental issues, in particular, those related to Lake
Baikal).</i></p><p>Mr Fadeyev, there is something to be said on each issue, and we will discuss. The format does not provide for a detailed discussion
of every report delivered since there will be a lot of speakers, but there are
some issues I must comment on. Migrant rights is a very pressing issue and this
is understandable, and, of course, I agree that it is necessary to maintain a balance – an ethno-cultural balance – in this respect.</p><p>Of course, everything that is taking place in this
area is primarily dictated by the interests of the economy, the shortage of workers
but it is certainly necessary to make these people ready for work. We must attract
the kinds of workers that are in the interests of the Russian economy. This is most important. This means that these people should
know the language and ethno-cultural aspects of our country. They should know our
traditions and so on. They should know our laws and respect them.</p><p>We are working on this in cooperation with our colleagues
from the CIS countries, from Central Asia. You could not fail to notice – and this
is public knowledge – that we are opening Russian schools there with instruction
in Russian and conducting other events. But this does not rule out that all people
arriving – I will repeat it again – must comply with Russian laws and respect
our cultural traditions, traditions of our people and so on. That said, we should
also guarantee their rights like a civilized country.</p><p>This is a huge set of issues, and it is very important for us to resolve them comprehensively,
while giving priority to the interests of the citizens of the Russian Federation
in all areas – let’s be straight about this. I would appreciate if the Council continued
working to this end.</p><p>As for Lake Baikal, it is a very important issue
as well. Here we need to strike a balance between the interests of people
living in this region and the need to protect the lake. In general, many issues
there require constant attention, considering this lake is our national treasure.</p><p>As for human rights in Novorossiya, in Donbass and the adjacent regions, we must take it extremely seriously. This issue will
require professionalism and persistence because those who don’t want this would
rather the problems not be noticed at all. But we know that problems exist and so
we certainly need to deal with them.</p><p><…></p><p><b>Vladimir Putin</b><i> (Commenting on the speech of Alexander Tochenov, president of the Centre for Applied Studies and Programmes, executive secretary of the Council.
Mr Tochenov addressed, in particular, the Council’s relationship with the authorities, assistance to participants in the special military operation, and responsibility
for actions performed by representatives of law enforcement agencies that may be
qualified as “torture.”): </i>Mr Tochenov, thank you very much. </p><p>A couple of comments if you do not mind.</p><p>You said that sometimes a faster response is
needed from various government and management bodies. I do not remember whether
we discussed this or not. I think we need to do our best to ensure that our
agreements take the form of Presidential instructions, and then the Control
Directorate and the Presidential Executive Office as a whole will get involved
in this issue. And it seems to me that then we can enhance the quality of the Council’s work even more, because there are certain deadlines for acting on a Presidential
instruction. You, and I see that the Council is working very actively, will act
essentially on the Presidential instruction, issued in a proper way. I believe this
would qualitatively improve and help you in your work and would improve the work of the Council itself.</p><p>Also, I would ask for your continued support of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation. You know, the Foundation does not
directly manage money, it has no money, but it has a very important function –
to monitor how the state responds when providing assistance to participants in the special military operation and members of their families, whether the state
achieves the goals that it sets itself in this area. It is necessary to get
feedback from those people for whom the Foundation is designed, for whom it is intended – the target group of participants in the special military operation. The State
Duma is also thinking about this, as well as the relevant ministries and the deputy
prime minister in charge of the social sector. And I would ask you not to forget this area of activity under any circumstances.</p><p>Now as for the problem of torture, no matter
how unpleasant it is to utter the word, still I have to. Of course, we need to continue monitoring the situation in this area, without any doubt, and identify
any such ugly acts, if they occur, in our penitentiary system and in general in the activities of law enforcement and special agencies. We definitely need to keep an eye on them.</p><p>Otherwise, if we miss anything here even for a moment, we will have very serious consequences from the point of view of both
the unity of our society, which is very important, and the social justice that
you are talking about. Many things will look different for us, and our self-assessment
will be completely different, which will not allow us to achieve the results we
need in many areas of our activities and development.</p><p>This also applies to the timing of preliminary
investigation. There were many decisions here, I will not dwell on this issue now,
but not everything has been resolved. People are still under investigation for years, this is unacceptable, it should be monitored very carefully. </p><p>This is a very important area of work, as well as digitalisation, education, environment, non-profit organisations, and the attitude of financial institutions towards them. I cannot see any minor
issues. I want to thank you for doing all this. Thank you.</p><p> <…></p><p><b>Chairman of the Council for Civil Society and Human
Rights Standing Commission on International Cooperation in Human Rights Kirill Vyshinsky</b>: Good evening, Mr President.</p><p>With your permission, I will start with what we
discussed during the same meeting a year ago. We agreed that a very high wave of Russophobia had risen in the countries of the European Union and the so-called
collective West. We asked you then to instruct officials to study thoroughly
our legislation, introduce a legal definition of Russophobia and provide for the possibility to toughen measures against it legislatively. </p><p>During this year, we held several roundtable discussions
with lawyers, our colleagues from the State Duma, as well as ministries and departments
that directly deal with issues of law and order. </p><p>For all the difference in our legal approaches,
we still agreed that Russophobia was really a serious problem, that it had practically
turned into a discriminatory ideological agenda. It is actually aimed at dehumanising the citizens of the Russian Federation, our compatriots – all
those who associate themselves with Russia and the Russian World, broadly
speaking. </p><p>Owing to your instruction, serious work was carried
out on a large scale. We know that a big package of draft laws has been prepared
by the State Duma and it is now undergoing expert review in the Government. We
are hoping that this package will be soon implemented and amendments on tougher
measures against Russophobia will be introduced in our laws.</p><p>But these are measures we are taking inside the country, being well aware of the fact that far from abating, this wave has become
even bigger now.</p><p>Here is the clearest example and I am sure you know
about it. We are well aware that even special instructions have been issued in this
regard. I am referring to the situation with our citizens living in Latvia on temporary
residence permits. They had to go through a rather humiliating process of taking
a language exam.</p><p>But, most importantly, they had to fill in absolutely
humiliating forms to demonstrate their disloyalty to the Russian Federation.
Let me repeat that they are citizens of the Russian Federation living in Latvia
in accordance with Latvian laws, on Latvian territory with residence permits.</p><p>As a result, in accordance with the information
of the Foreign Ministry, over 3,000 people or 3,255 to be precise, have now
found themselves in a situation where they may be forcedly deported from
Latvian territory starting December 1. </p><p>Let me repeat that I know that a special meeting
of the Russian Federation Security Council was held, and special instructions were
issued to all competent departments and the heads of the regions bordering on Latvia. However, I would still ask you to pay attention to this problem once again
because we may face a situation where Latvian court bailiffs will simply bring people in wheelchairs to the border.</p><p>Maybe it would make sense to organise a direct line
of the Red Cross that people could simply call if they were evicted by force.
They could use it to report that this is happening to them and receive some initial
organisational assistance right on the Russian-Latvian border. But, let me repeat
that this is a particular case of Russophobic manifestations. It shows that they
are gaining momentum.</p><p>In Germany, our citizens, living there on residence
permits or due to some other circumstances, our citizens, simply Russian speakers
that moved there at one time, have their bank accounts closed. Confiscation of cars
with Russian license plates, Russian registration is common knowledge. Let me repeat
that it will only get worse. This is what we think and our view is shared by many
people, including NGOs that are dealing with the problems of our compatriots living
abroad. </p><p>I think it is very important to emphasise repatriation
from unfriendly countries. In effect, our compatriots are finding themselves there
in the extreme situation where they are starting to be forced out of their
homes or deprived of some social guarantees, even the ability to exist in the infrastructure of the countries where they lived. They are ready to move to Russia but are facing a big tangle of complicated problems.</p><p>I think it is important to give them a signal that
we are waiting for these people from unfriendly countries, and also to let them
really hear the words that should have been voiced openly a long time ago. It is
simple: home is best, come back, the country is waiting for you. </p><p>We all remember well the processes that took place
in the late Soviet years and the early post-Soviet years. We remember this largely
economic migration. I think that the time is ripe for the reverse process. We
will be waiting for people ready to return to Russia from the states that are
unfriendly for the time being, which, unfortunately, are growing in number. If this
message works, if it is voiced and heard, I think we will receive some serious
human capital. These people are socially active; they made a life for themselves
in a different environment, created some businesses and jobs; they have serious
experience and know innovative technology. In brief, they will certainly not be
idle in our country.</p><p>I think the country is ready to give them this
signal. Therefore, I would like to ask, if possible, for you to issue an order introducing
the concept of “repatriation from unfriendly countries” and maybe creating some
infrastructure so that this process could receive serious support from the state.</p><p>Thank you.</p><p><b>Vladimir Putin</b>: Thank you, Mr Vyshinsky.</p><p>We know what Russophobia is; we have been experiencing
it for a long time. This attitude was especially pronounced in the Baltic
countries; they were doing it for the whole world to see, long before the special military operation. The special military operation has absolutely
nothing to do with it.</p><p>Some politicians may have decided to take
advantage of Russia’s special military operation to achieve their political goals
at home. This is their business, and it does not make them look any better, of course. There is also no doubt that any country, Russia included, when it comes
to immigrant workforce, any country wants, quite legitimately, such people to respect
the host country’s traditions and culture, including its language. I mentioned
this at the beginning of our meeting,</p><p>But when it comes to the category you just
mentioned, these are, first of all, the people who lived there in the Soviet time,
and often, due to various circumstances of previously living in one single
country, they ended up where they live today, and their children were born there,
and so on. So of course, their status as “non-citizens” has no place in the legal
plane of most civilised countries – this bizarre invention of those who claim
to be democracies is undeniably ugly, and it is now evolving on a bigger scale.
We all see this clearly.</p><p>It has always been our view that, in the modern
world, a person can choose the country where they want to live – if it is their
choice, if it did not happen for objective reasons such as moving around in the Soviet Union. In general, if a person decides to live in another country, it is
their choice.</p><p>But what you have said, what we are facing, these
processes certainly require closer attention. We are compelled to adjust our
relations with the countries where such things are happening, and we need to show consideration in regard to people who want to return to their historical
homeland.</p><p>We certainly need to take some systemic
measures here. And Mr Vyshinsky, you are right, we need to think about this. We
will formulate our approaches to these processes accordingly. On the other hand,
if people want to stay but are being expelled, there is nothing we can do about
it either. Nonetheless, we will need to create conditions for these people as well.</p><p>Let us think about how to respond to what is
happening together – with you, with the Council for Human Rights, the Foreign
Ministry, and the Russian Government.</p><p>I do not think that those who pursue such a policy will be blessed with happiness. As far as a I know, the Russian-speaking
population accounted for about 40 percent in Latvia; I do not know how many
there are now. But there are certainly a lot of them. If the country pursues a policy like this with regard to people who want to live there, who have worked
there and created added value for that country, if these people are treated like
dirt, then surely these governments will face the same dirt in their own
countries in the end.</p><p><b>Vladimir Putin</b>
<i>(commenting on the remarks by Ulyanovsk Region’s
Commissioner for Children’s Rights Yekaterina Smoroda on schooling problems)</i>:
Everything you said is extremely important.</p><p>School is a very sensitive and important
sphere of society and public administration. It is about teaching, textbooks,
salary, and the prestige of the teaching profession. As for homeroom teachers
and regulating their activities (I made a note for myself for further reference),
we will by all means take a close look at it. I will instruct the ministry
accordingly, and the Presidential Executive Office will review it as well.</p><p>I was taken somewhat aback by what
you said about reporting. Everything related to computerising teachers’ work
was aimed at lessening the burden of their work and cutting red tape. You have
mentioned mandatory computerisation. Frankly, it struck me as a very strange, unexpected
and perfunctory approach to IT development. I will definitely discuss this with
the minister, I promise.</p><p>Let us talk some more about the acute
issue of the children of migrant workers. It is a challenging issue, and I have
jotted down everything you said almost to the letter. We need to think about
ways to resolve these issues. Migrant children should attend school, but this
process should not affect the quality of education of our children, the children of our citizens. This is a separate issue, and we cannot pretend it
does not exist. I will issue an instruction to draft proposals accordingly, and I hope you will take part in developing these solutions. Separate groups can be
formed to address this issue. There is a lot that can and should be done in this regard, except one thing which is to pretend that the problem does not
exist. They do exist, that is true, and you are absolutely right.</p><p>Now, with regard to numerous
attempts to discredit teachers and educators. Without a doubt, this is an important and delicate area that should be subjected to regulation by the latest available means, especially considering that we live in a modern
information society. Shouting and banning things alone will not solve anything.
No need to get into the details now.</p><p>The issue that you have raised is probably
among the most challenging issues, but we absolutely need to protect teachers
from unwarranted interference in their lives and from undue pressure in the information space. Again, we need to think and make appropriate decisions that
will improve the situation in terms of protecting teachers' rights.</p><p><b>Vladimir Putin: </b><i>(Commenting on the remarks by Olga
Demicheva, head of the Doctor Liza’s Fair Aid International Charity Foundation,
which touched on the problem of organising social and medical assistance for people
of no fixed residence)</i>: The topic you have raised is very sensitive. People who find
themselves on the street due to various circumstances – I will not discuss the reasons behind
this right now – without a place of permanent residence and often without work, of course, need special attention
from society. After all, perhaps the fault for what happened is largely their
own, but it is also the fault of society as a whole. This means that society as a whole has allowed people to get like this, that is the point.</p><p>If that is what has happened, then
we all must think of ways to fix this to the extent possible. Let us look at the experience of the Tyumen Region and think together how it can be used and extended to the entire country.</p><p>Thank you very much for raising this
issue. I would like to ask you to continue working on this topic with your
colleagues from the Government and the Presidential Office and to convey to them everything that you consider necessary in order to make appropriate
adjustments in this line of work.</p><p><b>Vladimir Putin </b><i>(commenting on Archpriest Kirill Kaleda’s
speech on perpetuating the victims of political reprisals):</i> You know, when we speak about victims
of political reprisals, we are referring to many different people. Some of them
really opposed the Soviet system. Others supported the system but landed in prisons
for different domestic political reasons. Some of them were accused, rightly or wrongly, of taking part in some internal political groups that were fighting
each other and were arrested because of these clashes. Some of them fell into this
category by sheer accident. All this matters, but some things are more
important for us in this respect.</p><p>It is more important for us to prevent
any repetition of this in our national history because it inflicted enormous,
hard-to-correct damage on our people and our state. The lack of law <i>per se</i> in resolving human destinies is
unacceptable if we want our country to have a future. This is really important,
and thus, the conclusion – this work should definitely continue.</p><p><…></p><p><b>Vladimir Putin</b>: I would like to thank all of you for your hard work this year, and to ask you not to slow the pace of this work. You
see how important it is for the country, and maybe even more important for those you help.</p><p>Thank you very much, and Happy New Year
to you.</p><p>Thank you. Goodbye.</p> Meeting of Council for Cossack Affairshttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/729312023-12-11T15:26:05+04:002023-12-01T18:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Presidential Aide Dmitry
Mironov, Chair of the Council for Cossack Affairs, chaired a visiting meeting
of the Council in Astrakhan. </p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/X6VPM80OlPZQm1APgDcU6T4dJlmISwEx.JPG" alt="Presidential Aide Dmitry Mironov chairs a visiting meeting of the Council for Cossack Affairs in Astrakhan." /> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Presidential Aide Dmitry
Mironov, Chair of the Council for Cossack Affairs, chaired a visiting meeting
of the Council in Astrakhan. </p></div> <img src="http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/photos/small/X6VPM80OlPZQm1APgDcU6T4dJlmISwEx.JPG" alt="Presidential Aide Dmitry Mironov chairs a visiting meeting of the Council for Cossack Affairs in Astrakhan." /> <p>Opening the meeting, the Council’s
Chairman noted that during 2023, the Astrakhan Region had held leading
positions in terms of implementing state policy with regard to Russian Cossacks.</p><p>Head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic
Affairs Igor Barinov briefed the meeting on the preliminary results of the first three-year stage in the implementation of the Russian Federation’s State
Policy Strategy Regarding Russian Cossacks for 2021–2030 and submitted an action
plan for implementing the Strategy in 2024–2026, approved by the Government. Ataman
of the All-Russian Cossack Society Vitaly Kuznetsov informed those present
about the involvement of Cossacks in the special military operation and plans
for developing Cossack societies in the next three years.</p><p>The meeting participants heard other
topical reports and approved corresponding decisions following the meeting. </p><p>After the meeting, Dmitry Mironov
presented state decorations to Cossacks serving with volunteer units and directly involved in combat operations linked with objectives of the special
military operation, as well as to certain Council members. </p><p> During his trip to Astrakhan, Dmitry Mironov also
visited the Ataman Ivan Biryukov Cossack Cadet Corps, which won the 2023
competition for the best Cossack Cadet Corps. He presented the school with
books and teaching aids.</p> Executive order On Awarding the 2023 Presidential Prize for Contribution to Strengthening the Unity of the Russian Nationhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/councils/726742023-11-04T15:06:31+04:002023-11-03T21:00:00+04:00<div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin signed Executive
Order <i>On Awarding the 2023 Presidential
Award for Contribution to Strengthening Unity of the Russian Nation.</i></p></div> <div class="c-summary" style="font-size: 1.2em"><p>Vladimir Putin signed Executive
Order <i>On Awarding the 2023 Presidential
Award for Contribution to Strengthening Unity of the Russian Nation.</i></p></div> <p>The prize has been awarded
to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Head of the World Russian
People’s Council international public organisation (Vladimir Gundyayev). The Executive Order also awards him the honorary title of the recipient of the Presidential Prize for Contribution to Strengthening
the Unity of the Russian Nation.</p>