©Mikhail Metzel/POOL/TASS
Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver his address to the Federal Assembly on Tuesday, February 21. The ceremony will take place at the Gostiny Dvor venue in Moscow at noon, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Traditional format
The Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly on the state of affairs in the country, on the main directions of the state’s domestic and foreign policy, is the foundation for setting strategic goals, priorities of social and economic development, and ensuring Russia’s national security.
The event’s format is traditional, it is cemented in the Constitution, but, in a way, it could be called long-awaited.
Last time, the Russian leader delivered his address to the parliament in April, 2021. First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Sergey Kiriyenko noted that this is the president’s right, which he may implement "whenever he considers it necessary."
Putin himself explained the absence of this event in 2022 by the fact that the situation was unfolding rapidly and it was difficult "to register the results and plans for the nearest future at any given moment." Instead, the president repeatedly voiced the most important points in his video addresses to the nation and other speeches.
Main topics
The key points of the upcoming speech have not been disclosed. However, Peskov said that the President will make one of the main emphases on the "current situation" - on issues related to the special military operation, to economy and social problems.
"Our entire life spins around the special op issue. And the special military operation influences our life in one way or another, influences the life on the continent. Therefore, of course, it would be reasonable to expect that the president will pay a lot of attention to the operation," the spokesman said. He added that "everyone is waiting for the address, hoping to hear the assessment of the affairs, the assessment of the special military operation, the assessment of the international situation and the president’s vision of how we manage it and how we will develop in the future."
Deputies of all five State Duma factions also believe that the special operation will become the main one in Putin’s address. They also expect to hear points on the main directions of development of the country’s economy, on ensuring its defense capabilities and security, and, per tradition, on the measures of social support to the Russian citizens.
They also expect that the address will touch upon the integration of the new region to Russia’s legislative field, and upon the issue of ensuring Russia’s national interests within the international context.
At least an hour long
Federal TV stations have allocated one hour for the broadcast of the presidential address. However, according to the spokesman, "this is only a formality," and the president may speak longer.
For example, in April 2021, the speech took 1 hour and 19 minutes. In 2018, the speech was the longest and took 1 hour 55 minutes. In 2004 and 2005, Putin delivered his shortest speeches of 48 minutes each.
The event’s format does not provide for invitation of foreign guests and it is aimed at the domestic audience. Usually, about a thousand guests are invited: lawmakers and senators, members of the government, high-ranking employees of the presidential administration, heads of the Prosecutor General’s Office, Constitutional and Supreme Courts, heads of regions, other senior officials, as well as heads of the main religions. This year, participants of the special military operation will attend the event as well.
As for the media, the Kremlin decided to invite only Russian reporters and reporters from friendly countries. According to Peskov, foreign reporters from unfriendly states have not been accredited, but they "will be able to work by watching the live broadcast on a TV channel of their choosing.".
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