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19.05.2025
12:00–13:30
The Law Is on Our Side: Year of the Defender of the Fatherland
Congress Centre, conference hall B2 (2nd floor)
Broadcast
In the run-up to the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War, 2025 has been declared the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland in honour of our heroes and participants in the special military operation, in memory of the exploits of our ancestors who fought for the motherland in different historical periods, and for the glory of our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers who crushed Nazism. One of the government’s most important tasks is to note the sacred duty of protecting historical truth against destructive external forces. Moreover, any attempts at Russophobia and discrimination against Russians abroad must be eliminated. What legal guarantees are enshrined in Russian legislation for the defenders of the Fatherland, and what else is needed and should be implemented in the near future? What is the current state of legal work to protect the rights of Russian compatriots and citizens abroad?
Moderator
Sergey Stepashin
Chairman, Association of Lawyers of Russia; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Territorial Development Fund
Panellists
Stanislav Alexandrov
Deputy Chairman of the Board, Russian Lawyers Association; State Secretary – Vice-President, Synergy Corporation
Yuri Zhdanov
Executive Secretary, Coordinating Council of Prosecutors General of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States
Evgeny Zabarchuk
First Deputy Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation
Svetlana Zylevich
Vice President, Federal Notary Chamber
Svetlana Orlova
Auditor of Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Pligin
Co-chair, Association of Lawyers of Russia; Head of the Sector of Administrative Law and Administrative Process, Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Marina Tokareva
Vice Rector, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)
Front row participants
Oleg Vavilov
Advisor to the Senior Vice President, Sberbank
Yury Melnikov
Commissioner for Human Rights in the Primorsky Territory
Elena Spiridonova
Advisor to the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation for New and Border Regions
Broadcast
Sergey Stepashin
Chairman, Association of Lawyers of Russia; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Territorial Development Fund
Stanislav Alexandrov
Deputy Chairman of the Board, Russian Lawyers Association; State Secretary – Vice-President, Synergy Corporation
Graduated with honors from the Law Faculty of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University and the Higher School of Public Administration of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation.
• In 2011-2013, served as an assistant to a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
• From 2013 to 2014, held the position of Deputy Head of the Office of the Association of Lawyers of Russia.
• From 2014 to 2020, served as the Executive Director and Head of the Office of the Association of Lawyers of Russia, and was a member of the Board of the Association of Lawyers of Russia.
• From 2020 to 2022, served as the Head of the Office of the General Director of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
• Since 2018, has been a member of the Government Commission on Compatriots Abroad and a member of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO.
• Since 2019, included in the reserve of managerial personnel under the patronage of the President of Russia.
Awards:
• Anatoly Koni Medal (the highest departmental medal of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, for contributions to the development of justice). Order of the Ministry of Justice of Russia (2022).
• Letter of thanks from the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin "For active participation in the socio-political life of Russian society and a special contribution to the implementation of priority social projects" (2020).
• Medal of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation "For Interaction." Order of the General Prosecutor's Office of Russia (2019).
• Medal of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia "For Diligence." Order of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia (2019).
• Letter of thanks from the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin "For active participation in the preparation and conduct of the elections of the President of the Russian Federation" (2018).
• Letter of thanks from the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin "For a significant contribution to the development of jurisprudence and constitutional legislation" (2018).
• Acknowledgment from the Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation V.I. Matviyenko "For a significant contribution to the development of legislation of the Russian Federation and active public activity" (2016).
• Acknowledgment from the Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation S.E. Naryshkin "For significant merits in the development of legislation of the Russian Federation, active socio-political activities, and on the occasion of the professional holiday - Lawyer's Day" (2015).
• Certificate of Honor from the Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation A.V. Konovalov "For effective assistance in solving tasks assigned to the Ministry of Justice of Russia, and on the occasion of Lawyer's Day" (2014).
• Letter of thanks from the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin "For active participation in the electoral campaign for the elections of the President of the Russian Federation" (2012).
• In 2011-2013, served as an assistant to a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
• From 2013 to 2014, held the position of Deputy Head of the Office of the Association of Lawyers of Russia.
• From 2014 to 2020, served as the Executive Director and Head of the Office of the Association of Lawyers of Russia, and was a member of the Board of the Association of Lawyers of Russia.
• From 2020 to 2022, served as the Head of the Office of the General Director of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
• Since 2018, has been a member of the Government Commission on Compatriots Abroad and a member of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO.
• Since 2019, included in the reserve of managerial personnel under the patronage of the President of Russia.
Awards:
• Anatoly Koni Medal (the highest departmental medal of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, for contributions to the development of justice). Order of the Ministry of Justice of Russia (2022).
• Letter of thanks from the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin "For active participation in the socio-political life of Russian society and a special contribution to the implementation of priority social projects" (2020).
• Medal of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation "For Interaction." Order of the General Prosecutor's Office of Russia (2019).
• Medal of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia "For Diligence." Order of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia (2019).
• Letter of thanks from the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin "For active participation in the preparation and conduct of the elections of the President of the Russian Federation" (2018).
• Letter of thanks from the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin "For a significant contribution to the development of jurisprudence and constitutional legislation" (2018).
• Acknowledgment from the Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation V.I. Matviyenko "For a significant contribution to the development of legislation of the Russian Federation and active public activity" (2016).
• Acknowledgment from the Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation S.E. Naryshkin "For significant merits in the development of legislation of the Russian Federation, active socio-political activities, and on the occasion of the professional holiday - Lawyer's Day" (2015).
• Certificate of Honor from the Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation A.V. Konovalov "For effective assistance in solving tasks assigned to the Ministry of Justice of Russia, and on the occasion of Lawyer's Day" (2014).
• Letter of thanks from the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin "For active participation in the electoral campaign for the elections of the President of the Russian Federation" (2012).
Yuri Zhdanov
Executive Secretary, Coordinating Council of Prosecutors General of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States
Evgeny Zabarchuk
First Deputy Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation
Svetlana Zylevich
Vice President, Federal Notary Chamber
Svetlana Orlova
Auditor of Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation
Born October 23, 1954 in the town of Obluchye, Khabarovsk Territory.
In 1977 she graduated from Ussuriysk State Teacher Training College, followed by the Khabarovsk Higher Party School and professional development courses at the Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation. She now holds a PhD in Economics.
From 1971–1991, she worked as a teacher at a boarding school in Vladivostok and was involved in party activities. From 1991–1993, she was Vice President, General Director of the Maritime Territory Women’s For-Profit Charity Organization ANNA. From 1993–1999, she was a deputy in the State Duma of the Russian Federation, a member of the Women of Russia faction, a member of the Committee on Budget, Taxes, Banks and Finance. From 2000–2001, Orlova was Vice President of ZAO NPO Krosna.
In November 2001, she was elected to the Federation Council to represent the Council of People’s Deputies of the Kemerovo Region. From January 2004 to March 2013, she acted as Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
By presidential decree of the Russian Federation as of March 24, 2013, she was appointed Acting Governor of the Vladimir Region.
On September 8, 2013 elected Governor of the Vladimir Region.
She is a recipient of the Order For Services to Homeland of the fourth degree, Order of Honor, Order of Commonwealth, medal of the Order For Services to Homeland of second degree, a medal In Commemoration of 850 Years of Moscow, a medal In the Commemoration of 1000 Years of Kazan, the P.A. Stolypin medal of second degree, and a medal of the Federation Council, the 20 Years medal, 70 years of Vladimir Region commemorative medal, a Letter of Commendation from the President of the Russian Federation, a Letter of Commendation from the Government of the Russian Federation, awards of the Kemerovo Region, badge For Services to the Development of OAO Russian Railways of first degree, and a badge Railway Worker of Honor. She has also received commendations from the President of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
She is Deputy Chairperson of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and heads Russia’s delegation to the Congress.
In 1977 she graduated from Ussuriysk State Teacher Training College, followed by the Khabarovsk Higher Party School and professional development courses at the Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation. She now holds a PhD in Economics.
From 1971–1991, she worked as a teacher at a boarding school in Vladivostok and was involved in party activities. From 1991–1993, she was Vice President, General Director of the Maritime Territory Women’s For-Profit Charity Organization ANNA. From 1993–1999, she was a deputy in the State Duma of the Russian Federation, a member of the Women of Russia faction, a member of the Committee on Budget, Taxes, Banks and Finance. From 2000–2001, Orlova was Vice President of ZAO NPO Krosna.
In November 2001, she was elected to the Federation Council to represent the Council of People’s Deputies of the Kemerovo Region. From January 2004 to March 2013, she acted as Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
By presidential decree of the Russian Federation as of March 24, 2013, she was appointed Acting Governor of the Vladimir Region.
On September 8, 2013 elected Governor of the Vladimir Region.
She is a recipient of the Order For Services to Homeland of the fourth degree, Order of Honor, Order of Commonwealth, medal of the Order For Services to Homeland of second degree, a medal In Commemoration of 850 Years of Moscow, a medal In the Commemoration of 1000 Years of Kazan, the P.A. Stolypin medal of second degree, and a medal of the Federation Council, the 20 Years medal, 70 years of Vladimir Region commemorative medal, a Letter of Commendation from the President of the Russian Federation, a Letter of Commendation from the Government of the Russian Federation, awards of the Kemerovo Region, badge For Services to the Development of OAO Russian Railways of first degree, and a badge Railway Worker of Honor. She has also received commendations from the President of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
She is Deputy Chairperson of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and heads Russia’s delegation to the Congress.
Vladimir Pligin
Co-chair, Association of Lawyers of Russia; Head of the Sector of Administrative Law and Administrative Process, Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Marina Tokareva
Vice Rector, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)
Oleg Vavilov
Advisor to the Senior Vice President, Sberbank
Yury Melnikov
Commissioner for Human Rights in the Primorsky Territory
Elena Spiridonova
Advisor to the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation for New and Border Regions