The meeting participants discussed various aspects of collaboration between the Government and the Federation Council during the law-making process.
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko’s remarks
Question by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Yelena Perminova
Question by Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin
Excerpts from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko
Mikhail Mishustin meets with Chamber Council members of the Federal Assembly of the Federation Council
Mikhail Mishustin meets with Chamber Council members of the Federal Assembly of the Federation Council
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko
Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Yelena Perminova
Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin (centre)
Mikhail Mishustin and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko
Mikhail Mishustin: Ms Matviyenko, colleagues,
Welcome to the Government House. First of all, I would like to congratulate, from the bottom of my heart, you and all members of parliament in your person on the International Day of Parliamentarism which is celebrated today.
In this connection, I find it important to note that the Federation Council is doing a lot to strengthen cooperation with legislators from other countries. It worthily upholds Russia’s interests, including within the framework of the Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS Member States, headed by Valentina Matviyenko. This includes efforts to monitor elections at various levels and to draft decisions on the development of the legal space.
I would like to specially thank you for actively promoting our regions abroad. With the assistance of senators, Russian territories are now actively involved in business and cultural forums, which is needed to launch dialogue with partners in friendly states.
I would like to discuss the results of our joint work.
We have established positive practical collaboration, with ministers taking part in meetings of the Federation Council during government hours, and senators regularly taking part in strategic sessions and working groups together with members of the Government. We also interact, while drafting bylaws. All this helps jointly accomplish objectives set by the President.
A year ago, a regular meeting
of representatives of the upper house’s Council and Government members was held.
Acting in line with a long-established good tradition, they voiced
well-prepared proposals. Over 20 instructions were issued following our
meeting, and almost all of them have been fulfilled. Most regulatory documents
have already been approved, and we monitor the implementation of these
decisions whenever necessary.
At the last meeting, we talked about updating Russia’s Spatial Development Strategy. This work was completed in December. The president emphasised its importance in unlocking the potential of all Russian regions, which is important for harmonious development of the country, as well as justice and equal opportunities for its citizens. This approach will be reflected in the measures to implement the strategy, with the drafting nearing completion.
We also had an in-depth discussion about staffing in healthcare and education; a number of specific decisions have already been taken to improve both areas.
First and foremost, I am talking about the Concept for the Development of Mentorship until 2030, which aims to raise the prestige of the teaching profession. The Government supported this initiative from the senators, which was developed under your leadership, Ms Matvienko.
As for doctors, in line with the president’s instruction we have revised the conditions of the Zemstvo Doctor and Zemstvo Paramedic programmes. Now, doctors and mid-level healthcare professionals are allowed to change their workplace within the same region. And payments have been doubled: up to 2 million roubles for doctors and up to 1 million for paramedics, obstetricians, and nurses. We expect this measure to help bring more specialists into healthcare institutions, particularly in rural areas.
We should also note the steps taken to reduce the bureaucratic burden on teachers at educational institutions. Senators and deputies worked together to prepare the relevant legislation, which is just one example of how effectively both chambers of the Federal Assembly are cooperating.
It is important that the Federation Council is also paying special attention to the quality of educational materials. The initiative to involve the Russian Academy of Sciences in textbook evaluation has already been passed into federal law. It will allow us to incorporate the most current achievements in science and technology into education.
We expect senators to continue to work productively with the Government, addressing issues that truly matter to people.
A significant package of proposals is related to raising the level of social protection for our citizens, especially those in need, including expectant mothers. Under your leadership, Ms Matvienko, senators presented amendments to the Government’s draft legislation. The issue was to increase maternity benefits for women who lost their jobs. The law is already in effect.
We have also seen new labour code provisions go into force, thanks to the work of both the State Duma and the Federation Council. These include permanent mechanisms to combat violations of labour rights, including late payment of wages.
Together with the deputies, you have also improved access to medication in rural areas. Now, even if there is no pharmacy nearby, people can get the medicine they need at the closest medical facility.
All of these regulations were adopted last year, but targeted social support remains a top priority for senators this year as well.
The recent proposals include free legal assistance of all types for parents
of large families. This is a popular, in-demand initiative that was implemented
by deputies and senators, in coordination with the Government.
An important issue of making laws jointly with the Federation Council is the preparation of additional support measures for the participants in the special military operation (SMO) and their families. As part of the process, another important legal norm has emerged.
Parents and spouses, who take care of SMO veterans, from now on cannot be refused an unpaid leave. We certainly have to give our loved ones the opportunity to take care of our defenders.
Also, the State Duma is currently considering a draft law that exempts SMO participants and their families from paying state fees in court when additional costs for required procedures have to be incurred to establish legally relevant facts.
The Government supports this proposal from the deputies and senators. We will also continue to help our men and their families.
The Federation Council focuses on the tasks of our country’s development, the implementation of national projects, the formation of the federal budget, and the fulfillment of presidential instructions. Representatives of your chamber of the Federal Assembly often initiate new bills to achieve these goals. I will name some of them.
It was done, for example, as part of the improvement of control and supervisory activities, when the senators’ proposals were supported by the Government.
Special conditions have been created for strategic, socially and economically important organizations. Now they will be able to enter into agreements with supervisors to eliminate violations detected during inspections. This opportunity was provided for core enterprises, housing and utilities services, and government agencies, as well as for the production of medicines.
This procedure is applicable to eight types of control, including energy, environmental safety, industrial safety, and others. Exceptions to this procedure are available for eight types of control except when our citizens’ lives and health are in jeopardy.
The relevant legislative amendments came into force this year. We hope that they will allow the inspected organisations to avoid both production shutdowns and staff layoffs.
I would also like to thank you, Ms Matvienko, for your recommendations on the preservation of cultural heritage sites. We supported an initiative prepared by you and your fellow senators to create a single registry for monitoring such buildings, which will contain information about those that need to be restored to make them accessible to people again and include them in economic turnover. According to preliminary estimates, the efforts may involve more than a thousand cultural heritage sites whose preservation is essential for us and for future generations in Russia.
The Government also supports proposals that contribute to the preservation of our scientific achievements. The senators demonstrated this approach during the preparation of the law on biological collections and bioresource centres, which is necessary for further research as well as for the country’s overall food security.
Together with the [State Duma] deputies, members of the Federation Council have contributed to establishing basic regulations for creative industries, thus ensuring the creation of new jobs and industries for representatives of creative professions. Another example of our successful cooperation is that we discussed the relevance of such legal solutions during the strategic session last week.
Colleagues,
Each legislative norm is checked by its application, practice, and reality. You are facing a very difficult yet highly necessary task, which is to exercise parliamentary control over new norms and how existing legal instruments are evolving.
The President emphasised the need to connect all forms and mechanisms of feedback with people in order to objectively assess the progress of transformations and see how their outcome meets the expectations of society and the obligations of the state.
I am sure that this is how you, as representatives of the constituent entities of Russia, will continue to act.
I would also like to thank you for your extensive work last year, and ask Ms Matvienko to take the floor.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko
Valentina Matviyenko: Mr Mishustin,
Thank you for your warm wishes on the International Day of Parliamentarism, which, by the way, was initiated by the Federation Council and later established by the United Nations. Now, parliamentarians around the world mark this day. In turn, I would like to offer my best wishes to you, because the majority of legislative drafts are prepared by the Government. In this regard, we have excellent cooperation, mutual understanding, and joint work.
I also want to thank you for the traditional meetings between members of the Federation Council’s Chamber Council and you, members of the Government. This is a very effective interaction mechanism, and we have already seen its results. It is practical, solution-oriented, and productive.
Following our last meeting, almost all of your instructions were fulfilled. We do not come with populist proposals, but with issues raised by the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which are then forwarded to us. We generalise and analyse them. Thank you for your responses to our initiatives.
Today, it is clear that achieving the ambitious national development goals set by the President and their successful implementation depend on the coordinated work of all levels and branches of Government. This work must be particularly targeted and effective.
I will raise just a few issues, and my colleagues will say more about it later. In his strategic address at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, the head of state outlined a systemic programme for the country’s socioeconomic development and its foreign policy course. He highlighted five key areas of structural transformation in the Russian economy. I’m aware that the Government is already actively engaged in this work. Recently, Mr Mishustin, you held a series of strategic sessions on the development of the creative economy, domestic science, and other important areas. I believe that the experience of cooperation with the Chamber of Regions will be essential in implementing the tasks set by the President, especially in terms of considering the interests of the Federation’s constituent entities. The principles of flexibility, technological efficiency, and speed emphasised by the President are crucial here. They should be fundamental in our work during this critical period.
First, supporting participants of the special military operation, veterans, and their families remains the priority for all of us. Following the President’s instructions, the bulk of legislative and regulatory work has already been completed through joint efforts. However, life shows that further adjustments are needed. Some may think certain issues are minor, but there can be no minor issues in this matter. In particular, responding to requests from our defenders, we worked with the Defence Ministry to draft a presidential executive order allowing one member from a wounded soldier family to receive free travel to accompany them to the place of medical rehabilitation. This executive order has been signed.
We have sent a number of other legislative initiatives to the Government. Please review them carefully and provide your support.
Separately, I would like to highlight the issue of protecting and supporting residents of border regions, particularly the Kursk Region, which was heroically liberated from Ukrainian occupiers. During our meeting at the Council of Legislators, the President tasked parliamentarians and the Government with re-evaluating current measures and strengthening social protections — and not just social protections — for people in the Kursk Region and border areas in general. I know that the Government is working on this, but clearer interagency coordination and alignment of actions are needed. Senators from border regions are constantly on the ground and in contact with the people, listening to their issues and concerns. We, as the Chamber of Regions, also strive to respond promptly and maintain constant communication with regional legislators and leaders.
Demographics. I will not dive deep into all aspects of this topic. Mr Mishustin, you and I have met separately to discuss this in detail. Therefore, I will only raise a few issues where I would like your involvement. Members of the Presidential Council for the Implementation of State Demographic and Family Policy have actively joined the effort. We have established full cooperation with the Government on all aspects of this work, consolidating best regional practices and promoting a family-centred approach. Recently, a very productive, from my perspective, meeting of the relevant State Council working group took place.
The family mortgage programme is certainly a valuable support for families with children, and the state allocates significant financial resources to sustain it. However, in my opinion, the procedure for issuing these loans needs to be fine-tuned.
Last year, over 50 percent of subsidised family mortgage loans were issued in just four regions: Moscow, the Moscow Region, St Petersburg, and the Leningrad Region. Moreover, more than 40 percent of these loans were taken out outside the borrowers’ registered regions of residence. Meanwhile, the remaining 85 regions accounted for roughly the same amount, or even slightly less. Of course, any citizen can take out a regular mortgage loan in any part of Russia, but subsidised family mortgage loans are specifically designed to help families with children improve their living conditions in their home regions. It should be accessible everywhere and not exploited as a loophole for investment purposes. Fine-tuning the programme would stimulate housing construction across all regions, support regional development, help prevent further population decline (which is also a demographic concern), and make better use of the secondary housing market which is something that has already been permitted.
I will not go deep into that, but we have all the necessary data and statistics, which I can make available to the relevant officials. I discussed this issue with Mr Khusnullin, and I believe he shares our perspective. We have submitted proposals to amend Government Resolution No. 1711 dated 2017, adding a requirement that subsidised family mortgage loans be used only for purchasing or building homes in the borrower’s registered region. This would ensure that families with children across all regions- not just the four mentioned above — can improve their living conditions. Second, we have extensively discussed and developed proposals on this matter. A model for subsidised rental housing for families with children, including young families, needs to be fine-tuned. Please issue a corresponding instruction.
The principle of family-centeredness should be a benchmark for both state policy and managerial decisions in Russia. Recently, during an open dialogue with Maxim Reshetnikov, I proposed assessing the demographic impact of economic decisions similar to regulatory impact assessments.
The quality of children’s nutrition is the foundation of their health. Currently, we are almost entirely dependent on imported skimmed milk powder, a key ingredient in infant formula. The same applies to starter cultures. We can and must produce these domestically, possibly in cooperation with Belarus — within the Union State framework- where this issue has already been resolved. In the sphere of baby food, we certainly need to establish clear and systematic order by building a unified state policy to ensure balanced nutrition for infants. First and foremost, to prevent any arbitrary interpretations, we must adopt non-negotiable quality standards for baby food. I am referring to the Healthy Baby clinical guidelines and GOST standards for dry ingredients and dairy products. To combat counterfeit products — since dry baby formula is quite expensive, and counterfeit items do appear on the market — we believe it is essential to introduce product labeling for baby food and implement a transparent system for tracking all ingredients. We also believe that to get a complete picture, we need a unified digital platform that would show how many babies there are across the country, the rates of breastfeeding and formula feeding, the availability of baby food in different regions, and whether the regions can meet this demand on their own.
Mr Mishustin, please issue the appropriate instructions.
Importantly, while the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Healthcare, and Ministry of Industry are actively working on these issues, the Government must appoint a responsible body to oversee interagency coordination on baby food matters. Of course, we work with everyone, but someone must consolidate and systematically manage this entire policy area.
As you noted, the Federation Council, as the Chamber of Regions, is systematically engaged in preserving cultural heritage sites. Currently, the Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage includes about 160,000 sites, including over 70,000 sites of federal importance, 78,500 sites of regional importance, and 4,000 sites of local importance.
Last December, the Federation Council held large-scale parliamentary hearings on this issue. Based on their outcomes, we adopted recommendations that align with the President’s address at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. The Federation Council has also developed and passed several important federal laws. I won’t list them all, but I want to thank Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin and Dmitry Grigorenko for their support. Let me give just one example: For years, a critical problem remained unresolved. Thanks to the law we passed, the cost of major repairs for blocks of flats designated as cultural heritage sites (of which there are over 8,000 in the register) has decreased by 2 trillion roubles, according to expert estimates. That’s a fact, and Mr Khusnullin can confirm it. Other laws we’ve adopted also help balance preservation and restoration efforts, ensuring proper renovation where needed.
In line with the President’s instructions following his Address to the Federal Assembly, we have prepared and submitted to the State Duma a number of draft laws. These documents will not only strengthen state protection of cultural heritage but also facilitate their economic use, removing excessive administrative barriers that hinder preservation. The Federation Council’s Committee on Science, Education and Culture, in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture, conducted an audit of all cultural heritage sites in poor condition, about 14,000 in total. Another 10,000 require urgent restoration measures, or we risk losing them entirely.
The President has set a goal to restore or repurpose, by 2030, at least 1,000 cultural heritage sites across the country, and use them as museums, educational centres, exhibition spaces, or hotels.
Mr Mishustin, in this regard, please instruct the Government to develop a targeted programme for these 1,000 priority sites and allocate necessary funding in the federal budget for 2026–2028, despite fiscal constraints. This is also crucial for domestic tourism, which will ultimately return these investments to the budget. This is a fairly important matter.
As I previously reported, together with Rosimushchestvo (the Federal Property Management Agency), regional authorities, and senators, we conducted a nationwide audit of derelict, abandoned, and unfinished buildings. To date, over 6,000 such structures have been identified. The Defence Ministry, Ministry of Culture, and DOM.RF have joined the effort, and we’ve finally broken the deadlock on this issue. Crimea requires special attention due to its severe problems with unfinished and ruined buildings.
Roadmaps have been drawn up in each region to transfer ownerless properties to appropriate authorities, return them to economic use, and attract investors for repairs and restoration.
Each senator has been issued an assignment and keeps these issues under control. We will not rest until no derelict buildings remain.
There was a proposal, which I hope Mr Siluanov will support, to grant the Finance Ministry and Rosimushchestvo the right to sell properties valued under 50 million roubles which will expedite the process. This would boost both regional and federal budgets. Please consider this and expedite a decision.
I would like to thank head of Rosimushchestvo Vadim Yakovenko for his active work across all regions, which we will continue. He reports to the Federation Council every three months, and we monitor progress closely so that we know where we should apply more efforts.
Special words of gratitude go to you, Mr Mishustin, and Mr Siluanov, for allocating modest, but critical funds to improve children’s vacations infrastructure. These targeted investments, distributed by the Ministry of Education, have become a driver that attracts extra regional and private funding. As a result, we expand capacity for children’s summer camps every year. I sincerely hope this budget line remains protected, despite financial challenges.
That is all I have to say, thank you. My colleagues will take it from here.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you, Ms Matvienko.
I will make a brief comment.
As far as supporting participants in the special military operation (SMO) is concerned, we are finetuning the system designed to support SMO participants and their families, a system based on feedback, as the President has instructed us. I would like to thank the Senators once again for doing this large-scale work.
As for your proposals on additional measures, we will analyse what we can do. I mean we will see how long-term savings take shape – as you have said – and will submit our conclusions. We will issue instructions to this effect.
Where the demographic policy is concerned, I know that you work closely with Ms Golikova in this regard. We will work on the Federation Council’s proposals for the Plan of Measures to implement the family and demographic policy. In this context, it is necessary to bring certain laws in conformity with the Presidential Executive Order, resolve family legal disputes through mediation (you have mentioned this), and extend the reduced-price rental arrangement for families with children from the Far Eastern Federal District to other regions. All of this needs to be analysed and correlated with budget capabilities.
The baby food thing – approved! We will certainly see what can be done.
Russia has rather stringent baby food safety standards. I think it is of great importance to continue safeguarding children’s health in this sense. Rospotrebnadzor (Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Protection and Welfare) issues certificates on baby food conforming to the safety requirements for infants aged up to three years. Lacking this document, a merchandise cannot be sold by our shops. We will also see what can be done with regard to proposals on a digital platform.
Now let us discuss abandoned facilities. It is a highly important topic. You have mentioned the Ministry of Culture. This is an issue in its own right. There are several dozen thousand facilities. We should tackle this vigorously. All the relevant instructions have been issued.
There is a highly important initiative to make an inventory of abandoned facilities. Inventories that are available have revealed a lot of things. This is a matter of conformity of the categories of land and types of authorised use handed out to legal entities to what is in actual fact.
This must also be addressed. We have discussed this with Rosimushchestvo (Federal Agency for State Property Management). Thank you for your initiative, we will continue to work.
Please, if there are any questions, I am ready to answer them.
Valentina Matvienko: Yes, Ms Yelena Perminova, please.
Yelena Perminova (Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy):
Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy Yelena Perminova
Thank you, Ms Matvienko.
Mr Mishustin, it is obvious today that the rehabilitation of participants in the special military operation is a highly important and necessary matter. The military in active service are given leading therapy at the Defence Ministry’s institutions. But after their discharge from military service, it is essential to preserve the results achieved and continue the rehabilitation so as to restore their health as much as possible and help veterans to return to peaceful life.
The Social Fund of Russia has 12 rehabilitation centres in various regions. This year, participants in the special military operation are using their services to restore their health. We hope that 17,000 of them will get this kind of assistance before the end of this year. However, financial appropriations for these centres have been only provided for 2025. Please support the rehabilitation of SMO veterans at these centres by envisaging financing for the Social Fund’s budget for the entire three-year period – for 2026 and the 2027–2028 planned period.
Mr Mishustin, in the future, we think it necessary to pass laws authorising continuous rehabilitation of SMO participants at the Social Fund’s centres and to determine sources of funding and the required amounts of money. With your support, we are ready for the joint drafting of bills.
Mikhail Mishustin: Yes, thank you very much. But it is primarily the Social Fund that is the chief recipient of funds for the rehabilitation of SMO participants. I am referring to 3 billion roubles for 2025. You were quite right in saying that. We do have 12 centres in various regions. These are good, high-quality medical centres that specialise in rehabilitation.
As for the sources of funding, we will see what we can do as we work on the three-year budget. Analysts will be instructed to look into this matter. But it is absolutely certain that we will not leave our respected SMO veterans without a rehabilitation. Relevant instructions will be issued.
Thank you.
Valentina Matviyenko: Thank you. Mr Grigory Karasin, the floor is yours.
Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin (centre)
Grigory Karasin (Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs): Mr Mikhail Mishustin, Ms Valentina Matvienko, colleagues. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the Government are focusing on the development of the Kaliningrad Region. Next year, we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of establishing the Kaliningrad Region. On 10 March 2025, the President signed an executive order on celebrating this memorable date. It may be symbolic, but this important event takes up the baton following festivities dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, considering their inseparable historical link.
The Kaliningrad Region is located in a complicated geopolitical environment, and it is therefore necessary to provide maximum possible support to anniversary events and to ensure the well-coordinated work of all state power agencies. The Federation Council is also ready to take an active part in this work.
Transport accessibility and sustained freight deliveries are currently seen as the most pressing regional issues. This is directly linked with socio-economic development and the well-being of local residents. In this connection, we suggest discussing the issue of approving additional support measures that would facilitate the region’s sustained and affordable transport links with other territories of our country, as well as uninterrupted subsidies for overseas ransportation and air traffic, and this is extremely important in conditions of restricted ground transits.
At the same time, we prioritise the issue of extra funding for subsidising affordable air tickets for all regional residents without exception.
Considering current realities and challenge in the Baltic region, the Kaliningrad Region is also interested in launching long-term contacts with promising partners from friendly states.
In this connection, we would like to ask the federal Government to support the organisation of the 2026 Russian-Chinese Youth Games in the Kaliningrad Region.
This international project will also expedite the development of the regional infrastructure, and it will make the region more popular with investors and tourists. Thank you.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you very much.
Speaking of the Kaliningrad Region, we already stipulate substantial transport subsidies. Today, we allocate approximately 4 billion roubles for subsidising the delivery of some one million tonnes of freight. These subsidies cover about 20 percent, or one-fifth, of all inbound traffic for the Kaliningrad Region. It comes to subsidies, as well as air traffic and air tickets. We have fulfilled the President’s instruction and allocated nearly one billion roubles for carrying over 300,000 passengers who live in the Kaliningrad Region. As of today, its residents are eligible for subsidised flights to five cities: Moscow, St Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and Yekaterinburg. Thy can fly home via 15 subsidised routes, bypassing Moscow.
All these programmes are fully operational. Last year, we fulfilled the President’s instruction in this sphere, and we have provided every regional resident with an opportunity to purchase subsidised air tickets.
We are working with the region’s leadership on a list of goods that are primarily shipped via external routes. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is addressing this issue. We are localising production to the greatest possible extent, so that it would be possible to manufacture these goods on the territory of the Kaliningrad Region. This includes measures for supporting businesses in special economic zones and efforts to attract investors. By the way, about 330 residents operating in the region have contributed net investment worth 228 billion roubles. This has made it possible to create 62,000 jobs.
We will also continue to provide support in connection with the Kaliningrad Region’s expanding trade and economic ties. We are doing this via BRICS, and delegations from China are actively visiting the Kaliningrad Region. China has become a powerful partner in this respect. We will assess specific results.
We fully support plans to hold
the 10th Russian-Chinese Summer Youth Games in Kaliningrad in May
2026. We have coordinated a sport programme with the Chinese side; the programme stipulates 10 different sport competitions. We will do everything
possible to organise these competitions in line with top international
standards, and we will set up an ad hoc organising committee.
