Valentina Matvienko briefed the President on the results of the Federation Council’s activities.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko following the parliament’s spring session.
The President thanked the senators for their active work. “The significance of your contribution lies not just in the fact that you approved more than 300 bills, including two constitutional laws, but also in the active role senators play in the legislative process. As you have just noted, they put forward legislative initiatives and draw attention to the fundamental issues that lie at the heart of the country’s life and the key challenges it faces,” Vladimir Putin said.
Valentina Matviyenko informed the President about the results of the senators’ work over the first six months of the year.
The Speaker of the Federation Council noted that the session was intense and dynamic. “We fulfilled all the plans concerning the implementation of the national development goals you had approved, as well as other instructions of yours, including those issues at St Petersburg International Economic Forum.”
The Speaker pointed out that out of over 300 bills, at least one-third concerned social support measures. “The senators drafted and submitted another 130 bills. All these bills are responses to requests from regional officials and the public. Some of them have already passed. The senators are currently among the three leading categories for the number of legislative initiatives submitted. This shows significant recent growth.”
Valentina Matvienko named demographic issues among the crucial topics. The state measures, adopted at the President’s instruction, are already bringing results. “The attitude to family, children and family values in society is certainly changing for the better. Last year, the birth rate increased in 18 regions, and the number of large families is growing as well. Over the past year, the number of student families has doubled, and half of them already have children,” the Speaker explained.
Valentina Matvienko added that in 2026, the number of social orphans has decreased by 17 percent. The number of children whose parents have either been deprived of or restricted in their parental rights has decreased by 25 percent. “The number of abortions has been falling consistently in the past two years – by nearly 12 percent.”
The Speaker clarified that the regional authorities and officials at all levels are involved in addressing demographic issues. Businesses and public institutions are participating as well.
The Speaker of the Federation Council praised the active work of the Presidential Council on Demography that the Speaker chairs. “We have prepared and forwarded to you a set of proposals based on the results of that meeting. We are waiting for your instructions following that meeting,” Valentina Matvienko said.
Speaking about support measures for special military operation veterans and their families, the Speaker said that during this session alone, the senators approved some 50 bills that serve the goals of the special military operation. “Since 2022, we have considered and passed over 400 bills, including over 160 bills on social support measures for our heroes. They have now become more targeted and specific. It is very important to clarify and adjust them so that every hero in every place is guaranteed their social rights.”
Valentina Matvienko told the President about the programme focused on the modernisation of children’s recreation and health infrastructure. “Over the four years, 336 new accommodation facilities have been built in 70 regions. Furthermore, major renovation of the infrastructure has been conducted, which provides annual health improvement opportunities to over 200,000 children. Primarily this applies to the children of special military operation veterans, as well as the children of doctors, teachers, and children from large families. We will continue. We are going to fully restore the infrastructure that was lost earlier,” she specified.
The Speaker also praised the senators’ work during the traditional Days of the Russian Regions, Government Hours, and Dialogues with Ministers.
Valentina Matvienko paid particularly attention to the work of the Council for the Integration of Reunified Regions – its meetings involve heads of regions from Donbass and Novorossiya and Government members – as well as some new formats, specifically, dialogue with cultural and art workers, and directors of regional theatres.
The Speaker also spoke about major events organised with the support of the Federation Council, and highlighted the success of the Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus in Minsk and the fifth Train of Memory cultural and educational project. “In the Year of National Unity, we have already convened the Second Forum of Women of the North. Following the First Forum, upon the initiative of the Federation Council, a number of laws of great significance for the indigenous small-numbered peoples was adopted. For instance, the professional standard ‘Livestock Breeder’ now encompasses a new profession – ‘Worker of Nomadic Housing’,” Valentina Matvienko added.
The Speaker also covered the support for and preservation of folk crafts. “The Federation Council, as the chamber of regions, has assumed stewardship of this matter. Comprehensive measures have been devised and implemented to support folk arts and crafts. The Day of Folk Arts and Crafts has been established. This year, on our joint initiative, the Government instituted a national award for masters and enterprises of folk arts and crafts. We have now reached an agreement with the Government to launch a personnel development programme for the folk arts and crafts sector, with the goal of attracting as many young people as possible, enabling master craftspeople to pass on their skills to the next generation, and ensuring that our traditional crafts not only survive but continue to flourish.”
Valentina Matvienko reported that the senators maintain contact with governors and heads of regional parliament to keep track of the state of regional budgets. She noted the importance of the President’s decision to postpone the repayment of budget loans until 2030. “The situation remains under the Ministry of Finance’s control. It is challenging, but there is no cause for alarm, and work is proceeding in a normal, business-like manner.”
The Speaker noted extensive international parliamentary ties. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 77 meetings with parliamentary counterparts from abroad in various formats. “These contacts extend well beyond the CIS countries. Our Interparliamentary Commission with China was highly successful. We have also maintained active contacts with South Africa, Indonesia and Mozambique.”
The Speaker thanked Vladimir Putin for his attention to the house of regions and for supporting senators’ constructive initiatives.
The interlocutors also touched upon the issue of the upcoming rotation of senators in connection with the Unified Voting Day.