Plan of action to implement Putin's address to be approved in Federal Assembly on Jan 21 - Matviyenko
MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax) - The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly will approve a plan of action to implement Russian President Vladimir Putin's address on January 21, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko told reporters on Thursday.
"All committees have been tasked with submitting well-thought-out proposals on implementing the address, and we will also approve them in the meeting of the chamber's Council on Tuesday," Matviyenko said.
Implementation of the address should begin soon, she said.
In his address to the Federal Assembly, the president suggests broadening the powers of the Federation Council, Matviyenko said.
"The heads of all defense and security structures will now be appointed after tentative consultations with the Federation Council. The powers of the Federation Council to approve not only the prosecutor general and his deputies but also the prosecutors of the Russian regions have been added. In addition, the right is provided to remove judges from office in the event of particular violations," Matviyenko said.
Consultations have already begun between senators and the presidential administration, the Supreme Court, and the Prosecutor General's Office on the fine-tuning of these mechanisms and powers that will be given to the Federation Council, she said.