🇷🇺 The Constitution of the Russian Federation, the fundamental law of our country that has supreme juridical force, was adopted by a nationwide referendum on December 12, 1993.

Constitution Day is rightfully considered one of the most important state holidays in Russia.

The Constitution has the supreme legal force and direct effect, and applies throughout the entire territory of the country. It consists of a preamble, two sections, nine chapters, 141 articles, and nine paragraphs of transitional and concluding provisions.

The applicable Constitution opens with a Preamble, which reads as follows:

We, the multinational people of the Russian Federation, united by a common fate on our land, establishing human rights and freedoms, civic peace and accord, preserving the historically established state unity, proceeding from the universally recognised principles of equality and self-determination of peoples, revering the memory of ancestors who have conveyed to us the love for the Fatherland, belief in the good and justice, reviving the sovereign statehood of Russia and asserting the firmness of its democratic basic, striving to ensure the well-being and prosperity of Russia, proceeding from the responsibility for our Fatherland before the present and future generations, recognising ourselves as part of the world community, adopt the CONSTITUTION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

In an era of global change, the Constitution remains a reliable guarantor of social stability, the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, the strengthening of the country’s integrity, and the assurance of its sustainable development. It reflects the core values of Russian society, namely, a strong family, patriotism, and the spiritual and cultural heritage of Russia’s peoples.

📖 The Copy No. 1 of the Constitution is kept in the Kremlin Library. When assuming office, the President of the Russian Federation takes the oath with his right hand placed on this copy of the Constitution.

Over its 32 years of existence, the Constitution has been amended several times. The latest amendments were adopted on October 4, 2022, when, following the outcomes of referendums, new regions - the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporozhye Region, and the Kherson Region - joined the Russian Federation. As a result, the total number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation increased from 85 to 89.

☝️ The Russian Foreign Ministry consistently follows the provisions of the Constitution in its work and, in cooperation with other government bodies, does everything possible to implement the objectives set forth in the Constitution.

Our country pursues sovereign foreign policy which relies on an understanding of Russia’s special role in maintaining global peace and security.

On December 14, as decided by the UN General Assembly for the first time we celebrate the International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations.

To commemorate the date we continue the series of posts on the #HistoryOfColonialism.

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In 1943, when the World War II was raging on, Bengal was hit by famine as a result of scorch-earth policy of the British army. The tactic was adopted because of the threat of the Japanese offensive. The British planned to inflict damage on militarist Japan, however, local population suffered the most. The actions planned in London caused death of up to 3 million 800 thousand people in Bengal in just one year.

On December 11, Sputnik News Agency and Radio and Daffodil International University (DIU) signed a memorandum of understanding.

Learn more.

⚡️ Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's statement on Remembrance Day of Journalists who Perished in the Line of Duty (December 15, 2025)

💬 December 15 in Russia is dedicated to remembering journalists who lost their lives while performing their professional duties.

Established in 1991 at the initiative of the Russian Union of Journalists, this day pays tribute to the courage and professionalism of correspondents, reporters, photographers and camera operators whose lives were tragically cut short while carrying out editorial assignments – whether on the front line of armed conflict, while covering street unrest, at the epicentre of disasters and natural calamities, or as a result of terrorist attacks committed against them.

Journalism places high demands on those who choose to devote their lives to this profession. It consistently ranks among the most dangerous professions – both in wartime and in peacetime. The dedication, selflessness, courage, readiness to take risks and capacity for self-sacrifice shown by those for whom journalism has become a true calling command admiration and profound respect.

▪️ Sadly, 2025 has brought new and irreparable losses. Journalists Alexander Martemyanov, Alexander Fedorchak, Andrey Panov, Anna Prokofieva, Nikita Goldin and Ivan Zuev were killed in the line of duty at the hands of militants of the Kiev regime.

Other names will forever remain in our hearts – Igor Kornelyuk, Anton Voloshin, Andrey Stenin, Anatoly Klyan, Daria Dugina, Oleg Klokov, Maxim Fomin (Vladlen Tatarsky), Rostislav Zhuravlev, Boris Maksudov, Semyon Yeryomin, Valery Kozhin, Nikita Tsisagi, Yulia Kuznetsova, and many others.

As before, we are convinced that responsibility for the murders of journalists and war correspondents must be shared by the Kiev regime – emboldened by impunity – together with its Western patrons, as well as by various multilateral structures and human rights institutions that deliberately remain silent about these bloody crimes, thereby encouraging Ukrainian neo-Nazis to commit further atrocities.

❗️ Unlike the silent Western human rights organizations, we will not turn a blind eye to this vicious and immoral practice and will insist that authorized international officials fulfil their responsibilities in good faith. All those responsible for these crimes will be identified and held accountable.

Today, representatives of Russian media outlets risk their well-being, health and even their lives beyond combat zones, becoming targets of unprecedented pressure by the authorities of the “collective West” and its ideological satellites. To understand the scale and variety of forms of repression against Russian media professionals, we recommend consulting the regularly updated special section “Foreign reprisals against Russian journalists and media” on the MFA Russia website.

We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of the fallen media professionals who fulfilled their duty to the very end, and we mourn together with them. May their memory be eternal.

#InMemoriam

Message by H.E. Mr Alexander Khozin, Ambassador of Russia to Bangladesh

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the Victory Day.

On this day in 1971, the nine-month-long Liberation War came to an end. The triumph of Bangladeshi people marked a new beginning in the history of the country, brought inspiration and hope that life will change for the better.

The Soviet Union whole-heartedly supported the newly born state. Nowadays, Russia is happy to continue the best traditions of friendship and cooperation with Bangladesh.

On this solemn occasion, I wish prosperity and progress to your country for its people to live in happiness and harmony.

Happy Victory Day! শুভু বিজয় দিবস!

⚡️ On the adoption of a UNGA resolution combating the glorification of Nazism

At the December 15 plenary session of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, a resolution titled “Combating the Glorification of Nazism, Neo-Nazism and Other Practices That Contribute to Fueling Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance” was adopted. The resolution was spearheaded by the Russian Federation.

The resolution garnered the support of 44 co-sponsoring states from various global regions.

✅ It was endorsed by 119 votes, opposed by 51 delegations, with 10 countries abstaining.

This resolution on combating the glorification of Nazism lays the groundwork for countering the falsification of history and efforts to revise the outcomes of the Second World War on an international platform.

It condemns the glorification of the Nazi movement and former SS members, including Waffen-SS units, deemed criminal by the Nuremberg Trials. The resolution expresses profound outrage at the rehabilitation of Hitler’s collaborators and attempts to elevate them to the status of national heroes, manifesting in torchlight processions, street renaming, and the erection of memorials.

The document articulates serious concern over the ongoing campaign against monuments dedicated to anti-Nazi and anti-fascist fighters and liberating soldiers in some countries, which has increasingly assumed the guise of state policy. Simultaneously, it expresses strong indignation at efforts by certain nations to prohibit symbols associated with Victory over Nazism.

The resolution particularly underscores that such actions desecrate the memory of the countless victims of Nazism, negatively impacting younger generations and being utterly incompatible with the obligations of UN member states under the Organisation’s Charter.

Furthermore, the resolution upholds the principle of inadmissibility of any ideology promoting the superiority of specific population groups based on racial, ethnic, religious affiliations, or similar criteria. This is particularly relevant in light of the persistent rise in Islamophobia, Christianophobia, Afro-phobia, Arabophobia, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism, notably in the collective West.

It is emblematic that this very political bloc, year after year, seeks to obstruct the adoption of the Russian initiative, resorting to unscrupulous procedural tactics, and consistently votes against international efforts to combat aggressive manifestations of racism and xenophobia. Of particular concern are the positions of Germany, Italy, and Japan, as former Axis members. Their indulgence of perilous trends raises questions about the sincerity of their contrition for crimes committed during the Second World War.

❗️The voting results clearly demonstrate that the global majority stands in solidarity with Russia’s approaches to combating the glorification of Nazism.

This is especially symbolic in the year commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory over Nazism in the Second World War, the founding of the United Nations, and the establishment of the Nuremberg Trials.

☝️ Moscow is convinced that the adoption of this thematic resolution will significantly contribute to the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.

✉️ Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings to participants in the event dedicated to inaugurating Kazan as Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2026 (December 15, 2025)

💬 Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, friends,

I am delighted to welcome the ambassadors of the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), representatives of the federal authorities, members of the delegation of the Republic of Tatarstan, the leaders of religious associations, and all other guests.

Russia as the largest Eurasian power and a civilisational state has traditionally maintained honest relations with Islamic countries based on mutual trust.

An absolute majority of Muslim countries are our long-time friends and partners. We are united by our strong commitment to building a more just multipolar world on the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety, interconnection and as a whole, and on the values of equal and indivisible security.

☝️ We are firmly committed to respect for the cultural and civilisational diversity of nations, and their natural right to freely choose their development paths.

In this connection, we regard the decision of the 13th Conference of the Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World, organised by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO), to declare Kazan as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2026 as recognition of our multinational and multifaith country’s achievements in the preservation of the rich historical heritage of our peoples.

The choice of the capital of Tatarstan was well-deserved. Kazan is a vibrant and distinctive city standing at the crossroads of cultures and religions. People of different nationalities and confessions have lived here in peace and harmony for centuries. I am confident that this model of harmonious coexistence can set a good example for many other countries.

Taken together, this makes Kazan a unique venue for demonstrating Russia’s diversity, developing an inter-civilisational and interfaith dialogue, and promoting the values of peace, mutual understanding and tolerance.

I have no doubt that the events planned for the large-scale programme in 2026 will help promote the best achievements of Russia’s culture and strengthen humanitarian ties between Russia and the Islamic world, and friendship and trust between our nations.

🤝 I look forward to seeing you in hospitable Kazan.

SERGEY LAVROV

🎙 Statement by President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the expanded meeting of Russia's Ministry of Defence Board (December 17, 2025, Moscow)

Key points:

• 2025 has become an important milestone in addressing the objectives of the special military operation. The Russian Armed Forces have secured and firmly maintain the strategic initiative along the entire line of contact.

• In 2025, more than 300 settlements have already been liberated, including major cities that had been turned by the adversary into fortified strongholds.

🇷🇺🇰🇵 I would also like to note our North Korean combat comrades. By decision of Comrade Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong-un, they were dispatched to take part in the liberation of the Kursk region and, shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen, fought the enemy with valour and courage. They took part in large-scale and extremely complex efforts to clear mines from the liberated Kursk region.

• Successful tests have been conducted of the Burevestnik strategic cruise missile with unlimited range and the Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle. Thanks to the use of a nuclear power unit, these systems will remain unique and unmatched for a long time, ensuring strategic parity, Russia’s security and its global standing for decades to come. We will continue working on these systems – refining, upgrading and improving them – but they already exist. By the end of 2025, an intermediate-range missile system equipped with the Oreshnik hypersonic missile will be placed on combat duty.

❗️ Russia has always, even in the most difficult circumstances, as long as there was even the slightest chance – sought diplomatic solutions to contradictions and conflicts. Responsibility for the fact that these chances were not used lies entirely with those who believed that it was possible to speak to us in the language of force.

• We stand for building mutually beneficial and equal cooperation with the US and European states, and for the formation of a unified security system across the entire Eurasian region. We welcome the progress that has emerged in the dialogue with the new US Administration. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the current leadership of most European countries.

• We are fully aware that in any international environment, our Armed Forces remain the key guarantor of Russia’s sovereignty and independence, its security and future, and of strategic parity. We must work consistently to strengthen them.

• Immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it seemed to us that we would very quickly become part of the so-called civilized family of European nations. Instead, Russia continued to be pressed from all sides – increasingly so. Virtually everything concerning Russia was decided from a position of force. They would pat us on the shoulder and invite us to various events, yet when it came to their interests vis-à-vis Russia, the West pushed them through by force, including by military means.

• President Trump says that if he had been President at the time, the conflict in Ukraine would not have happened. Perhaps that is so, because the previous US Administration deliberately steered the events towards an armed conflict.

👉 The objectives of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to do so and to eliminate the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means. However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in a substantive dialogue, Russia will secure the liberation of its historical lands by military means. Efforts to establish and expand a security buffer zone will continue on a systematic basis.

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