The results of the Russian constitutional referendum have showed a high level of consolidation of society on key issues. The Russian people have adopted the important norms. The Russian President Vladimir Putin announced it on July 3, 2020 during the meeting with members of the working group on preparation of the amendments to the Basic Law. The adopted amendments are the basis for further development of Russia. Vladimir Putin has instructed the Russian Government to take them into account in the budgets, in all Federal programs and national projects.

Before the meeting, the head of state signed a decree by which the amendments to the Russian Constitution come into force on July 4, 2020. “They come into force, without any exaggeration, at the will of the people”, Vladimir Putin said. “The changes made to the Russian Basic Law affect everyone, and only Russian citizens could make the final and resolute decision”.

Vladimir Putin thanked “all those who had made their responsible choice”. He recalled the results - about 68 percent of Russian voters had participated in the referendum, and the absolute majority - about 78 percent - had supported the new constitutional norms. “We’ve made this significant decision together, as a whole…It concerns the values and basic principles that underpin Russia’s further development and make us truly one people, one whole” the head of state noted. According to the Russian President, people felt in their hearts that the proposals put to the vote were in demand and needed for the country.

The idea of making changes to the Basic Law was announced by Vladimir Putin in January 2020 in his message to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. According to the Russian President, they were necessary for the further development of Russia as a legal social state, “in which the highest value is the freedoms and rights of citizens, human dignity, and their well-being”. The majority of deputies, heads of parliaments and factions have supported the idea of amending the Constitution.

A working group was formed to prepare proposals for amendments to the Constitution. It included not only deputies and senators, but also sportsmen, actors, doctors and other public figures. The working group was co-chaired by Pavel Krasheninnikov, Head of the Russian State Duma Committee on state-building and legislation, Andrey Klishas, Head of the Constitutional committee of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, and Talia Khabrieva, Director of the Institute of legislation and comparative law under the Government of the Russian Federation.

Vote

One of the conditions for entry into force of the amendments was their approval by Russian citizens at the constitutional referendum that had been scheduled for April 22, 2020, but due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, it was postponed and took place from June 25 to July 1, 2020.

The final turnout was 67.97%. The amendments were supported by 77.92% of those who voted (almost 58 million Russians), and 21.27% (about 16 million people) opposed them.

Social guarantee

One of the first proposed amendments, the President outlined fixing the minimum wage not lower than the subsistence level in order to ensure “fulfilment of the social commitments of the state in any situation throughout the country”. In addition, the amendments separately guarantee the protection of the dignity of citizens and respect for a person of labour, as well as ensure the implementation of the principles of social partnership in the field of labour relations. One of the most popular and supported amendments was the indexation of pensions at least once a year and other social benefits in accordance with the Federal law.

Disputes arose over the family values set that presents marriage “as a union of a man and a woman” and children as a “priority of state policy”. However, the authors of the amendments explained that the concept applies only to “marriage”, and not to the family, which can be considered as one parent with a child. According to the amendments, “the Russian state also ensures the priority of family education, assumes the responsibilities of parents in relation to children left without parental care”.

Cultural heritage

An important part of the proposed changes is the preservation of Russia’s cultural and historical heritage, as well as the protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Thus, according to article 67, actions aimed at alienation of a part of the Russian territory, as well as similar appeals, are unacceptable. In addition, the Basic Law guarantees support for compatriots abroad and protection of their rights.

In the context of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic war and different attempts to distort deliberately facts and review its results, the Constitution includes an amendment to protect Russian history.

Additionally, the amendments note the protection of “the cultural identity of all peoples and ethnic communities of the Russian Federation” and the preservation of their ethno-cultural and linguistic diversity. According to the text of the amendments, culture is protected by the state and is “the unique heritage of its multi-ethnic people”. However, according to the approved amendments, the state language throughout the country is Russian as the language of the state-forming people.

For the first time, the Constitution also mentions God. “The Russian Federation, united by a thousand-year history, preserving the memory of our ancestors who passed us the ideals and faith in God, as well as continuity in the development of the Russian state, recognises the historically formed state unity”, the text of the amendments suggests.

Another introduction has aim to preserve the country’s natural wealth and reduce the negative impact on the environment. Thus, the Russian Government will take measures to create favourable living conditions for the population, preserve the natural diversity of Russia, as well as develop the system of environmental education and environmental culture.

The role of civil society in public policy and those volunteers who “care for the disabled, plant trees and clean reservoirs” will be mainly noted for the first time. The amendments also include support for Russian science and state regulation of information technologies.

According to one of the amendments, the Constitution now takes priority over international law, and the Constitutional court of the Russian Federation has the power to refuse to execute decisions of international bodies if they contradict the Basic Law. However, the co-chairs of the working group stated that Russia has never reneged on international obligations and will not do so.

Vladimir Putin said that Russia would have to make a qualitative change in its legislation. After all, it must fully comply with the updated Constitution, the Russian President stressed. “It was obvious that if citizens support the amendments, serious large-scale legislative work will be required. And this moment has come”, he added. The Russian leader drew the attention of the Government, Parliament and heads of regions to the fact that the priorities and values that Russians voted for “must be fully implemented” in specific cases. Every rule included in the Basic Law means not contemplation, but action, Vladimir Putin stressed.