A number of analysts assessed the January 22 session of the State Council as a triumph of openness and pluralism, although in reality, it merely confirmed the immutability of the foundations of sovereign democracy.
Yesterday the government website published Prime Minister's resolution cancelling the preceding, 1996, version which restricted the use of the words "Russia," "Russian Federation" and "federal" in company and organisation names. However, the use of "state-related" words is as before, regulated by Russia's Civil Code.
Vladimir Putin meets with Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Berel Lazar, as an ally in the fight against the falsification of history.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called Jewish organisations allies helping Russia to counter false accounts of history.
Vladimir Putin celebrated Tatyana’s Day together with students of Chuvash State University in Cheboksary yesterday. During the tea party, the prime minister was reasonably frank in admitting that the Kremlin had impressed him the most, but modestly refused to admit that he was a “living saint.” He also refused to discuss his courting techniques, saying that the subject was too intimate.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin celebrated the Students’ Day as a student at Chuvash State University. However, instead of grinding away at his studies, the prime minister was offered homemade patties. During the hour-long meeting, the students managed to discuss with the prime minister all the problems that worry the young.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin spent Tatyana’s Day, or Russian Students’ Day, in Cheboksary, the capital of Chuvashia. There, he met a group of students in the republican state university and discussed a wide range of issues with them – from the problems of foreign students and the scandalous TV show “School” to the development of innovations and support for small business. Putin did not avoid the compliments of the audience, but courageously tried to resist them.
Here we go again. Those reproaching Russia for a lack of politics inside the country, have been, for the umpteenth time, shown how wrong they are: if Russia is a state, it has to be managed, and state management, regardless of the methods it is managed by, is politics.
The agenda of the future parliamentary and presidential elections will have to be determined in spring. Meanwhile, part of the Russian political elite thinks that this question boils down to the trivial question, “who?”
The leaders of the opposition parties did not dare use the high rostrum of the State Council to offer far-reaching political reforms. They merely criticised the results of the October elections and complained about the governors and the legal system.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned governors of the North Caucasus Federal District that if they merely delegated their tasks to the municipal level and did not keep track of them, everything would continue as before – people would be forced to knock on doors, beg, plead, and offer bribes.
At the meeting of the State Council on Friday, President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin set forth their views about the current state of the political system and the directions of its future development.
Chechnya will now be able to make its own customs clearance of incoming freight. Yesterday, Vladimir Putin signed the resolution to lift the ban on Chechen customs. The resolution also lifts the ban on the import of goods to the republic.
For the first time since being appointed Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin gave clear explanations on domestic policy issues, defending the political system he had created.
Governors of the North Caucasus Federal District will have to dismiss officials on Alexander Khloponin’s first request.
There is always someone in Perm to correct the prime minister if he makes a mistake.
Businesses are offered insurance policies as fire protection.
The price and characteristics of Russia’s grandiose plans to manufacture a new car were disclosed yesterday. Mikhail Prokhorov unveiled his plan for a “low-budget city car” to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during their meeting on Tuesday. It turns out that the car will not be as low-budget as it seems.
Deputies are concerned with the housing quality for the military.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Voronezh yesterday. He visited the Sozvezdie (Constellation) research and production centre to inspect how the decree he signed ten years ago has been executed. Later, the prime minister held a meeting at the city’s government on the Russian Armed Forces.