WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:06.752 Esteemed members of the Federation Council, deputies of the State Duma, 2 00:00:06.752 --> 00:00:09.213 judges of the Constitutional Court, 3 00:00:09.213 --> 00:00:13.311 esteemed drafters of the Constitution of the Russian 4 00:00:13.311 --> 00:00:16.891 Federation, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, 5 00:00:16.891 --> 00:00:20.758 Congratulations to all of you on the occasion of an important date – 6 00:00:20.758 --> 00:00:23.943 the 25th anniversary of the Constitution of the Russian 7 00:00:23.943 --> 00:00:28.391 Federation. (Applause.) 8 00:00:31.251 --> 00:00:35.639 This supreme legal act was adopted by popular vote. 9 00:00:35.639 --> 00:00:40.213 It was the free choice of the people as the sole source of power 10 00:00:40.213 --> 00:00:44.434 and bearer of sovereignty that granted the Constitution its 11 00:00:44.434 --> 00:00:46.832 unequivocal legitimacy. 12 00:00:46.832 --> 00:00:50.438 The people made this historic choice for the sake of their native 13 00:00:50.438 --> 00:00:54.317 country, for the sake of themselves, their families and their children, 14 00:00:54.317 --> 00:00:56.339 and the present and future of Russia. 15 00:00:56.339 --> 00:01:02.966 We put an end to the alarming situation that was developing in our 16 00:01:02.966 --> 00:01:07.714 country, and left this lesson of reconciliation 17 00:01:07.714 --> 00:01:10.583 and solidarity for posterity. 18 00:01:10.583 --> 00:01:14.951 The new Constitution made a decisive contribution to overcoming 19 00:01:14.951 --> 00:01:19.798 the severe political crisis and civil confrontation of the early 1990s. 20 00:01:19.798 --> 00:01:22.070 As a document of direct application, 21 00:01:22.070 --> 00:01:25.858 it made it possible to avoid the catastrophe of territorial 22 00:01:25.858 --> 00:01:28.825 disintegration, and strengthened the statehood 23 00:01:28.825 --> 00:01:30.782 and sovereignty of our country. 24 00:01:30.782 --> 00:01:34.184 The greater the distance from the time and events that preceded 25 00:01:34.184 --> 00:01:37.038 the adoption of the Fundamental Law, 26 00:01:37.038 --> 00:01:40.440 the more we appreciate its unifying and constructive role. 27 00:01:40.440 --> 00:01:44.413 The text of the Constitution does not contain empty declarations. 28 00:01:44.413 --> 00:01:47.872 Its provisions are operative. 29 00:01:47.872 --> 00:01:51.968 However, the Constitution is not a rigid legal construct, 30 00:01:51.968 --> 00:01:54.919 but a living, evolving organism. 31 00:01:54.919 --> 00:01:58.401 Foreign experience and domestic legal, cultural, 32 00:01:58.401 --> 00:02:02.535 historical and social traditions were taken into account 33 00:02:02.535 --> 00:02:04.783 when adopting the Constitution. 34 00:02:04.783 --> 00:02:08.211 Representatives of the regions, political parties, 35 00:02:08.211 --> 00:02:12.736 and civic movements were actively involved in preparing the draft 36 00:02:12.736 --> 00:02:15.410 Constitution for nationwide referendum. 37 00:02:15.410 --> 00:02:17.824 Their positions did not always align, 38 00:02:17.824 --> 00:02:20.892 far from it. But their striving for compromise, 39 00:02:20.892 --> 00:02:25.004 wisdom and responsibility for the country ultimately prevailed. 40 00:02:25.004 --> 00:02:27.288 As a result, the supreme legal act, 41 00:02:27.288 --> 00:02:30.747 which is often called the Constitution of new Russia, 42 00:02:30.747 --> 00:02:32.313 was created and adopted. 43 00:02:32.313 --> 00:02:37.036 But this is the Constitution of the same Russia, our same country, 44 00:02:37.036 --> 00:02:39.541 whose history dates back centuries. 45 00:02:39.541 --> 00:02:44.858 The idea of ​​such continuity is explicitly underscored in the preamble 46 00:02:44.858 --> 00:02:49.954 to the Fundamental Law, which clearly states that the existing state 47 00:02:49.954 --> 00:02:54.976 unity needs to be preserved, while warm and poignant words are said 48 00:02:54.976 --> 00:02:59.334 about the multi-ethnic people of Russia united by a common 49 00:02:59.334 --> 00:03:00.958 destiny on their land. 50 00:03:00.958 --> 00:03:03.308 Back then, at a critical turning point, 51 00:03:03.308 --> 00:03:07.405 our country did not abandon its past or the memory of its ancestors. 52 00:03:07.405 --> 00:03:11.019 Instead they served as the foundation to further strengthen 53 00:03:11.019 --> 00:03:13.730 the powerful, sovereign and democratic state, 54 00:03:13.730 --> 00:03:17.331 where the individual is recognised as the highest value, 55 00:03:17.331 --> 00:03:20.183 and human rights and freedoms, as well as civil peace 56 00:03:20.183 --> 00:03:24.295 and interethnic harmony are affirmed. 57 00:03:24.295 --> 00:03:29.992 The Constitution and its articles are the pinnacle of the Russian legal 58 00:03:29.992 --> 00:03:34.265 system and the foundation for its further development. 59 00:03:34.265 --> 00:03:39.806 All current Russian laws are built on this constitutional foundation. 60 00:03:39.806 --> 00:03:45.186 It is symbolic that the modern history of Russian parliamentarism – 61 00:03:45.186 --> 00:03:48.318 both chambers of the Federal Assembly – 62 00:03:48.318 --> 00:03:51.949 also dates back to December 12, 1993. 63 00:03:51.949 --> 00:03:54.830 State Duma deputies of all convocations, 64 00:03:54.830 --> 00:03:57.279 members of the Federation Council, 65 00:03:57.279 --> 00:04:00.076 and legislators from the regions have made a significant and worthy 66 00:04:00.076 --> 00:04:03.296 contribution to forming our legal system. 67 00:04:03.296 --> 00:04:08.689 Of course, the Constitutional Court has retained its key role. 68 00:04:08.689 --> 00:04:13.718 It was involved in the practical realisation of many constitutional 69 00:04:13.718 --> 00:04:18.451 norms, upheld the provisions of the Fundamental Law from faulty 70 00:04:18.451 --> 00:04:22.814 or biased interpretations and ensured the purity and unity 71 00:04:22.814 --> 00:04:25.107 of our legal space to this day. 72 00:04:25.107 --> 00:04:28.810 Of course, the process of legislative and law enforcement work 73 00:04:28.810 --> 00:04:31.808 and judicial practice goes on without interruption. 74 00:04:31.808 --> 00:04:36.236 To reiterate, there is vast potential for development in all spheres, 75 00:04:36.236 --> 00:04:38.995 which is predetermined by the Constitution. 76 00:04:38.995 --> 00:04:44.251 Its incisive and straightforward prescriptions in the most fundamental 77 00:04:44.251 --> 00:04:48.630 areas exist in harmony with considerable freedom for advancing 78 00:04:48.630 --> 00:04:52.245 legislative initiatives, enacting flexible policies 79 00:04:52.245 --> 00:04:55.443 and taking effective administrative decisions. 80 00:04:55.443 --> 00:04:58.335 You are aware of how rapidly the world is changing. 81 00:04:58.335 --> 00:05:02.646 Among other things, the Constitution helps us keep up with the times 82 00:05:02.646 --> 00:05:06.582 without betraying ourselves, and assert our national interests. 83 00:05:06.582 --> 00:05:11.666 We are pursuing an independent foreign policy and looking for adequate 84 00:05:11.666 --> 00:05:16.464 solutions to current challenges based on its principles and values, 85 00:05:16.464 --> 00:05:20.903 which, we realise, are of critical importance not only for us, 86 00:05:20.903 --> 00:05:24.054 but the entire world and its future as well. 87 00:05:24.054 --> 00:05:25.316 Friends, 88 00:05:25.316 --> 00:05:28.131 It is essential that all political forces, 89 00:05:28.131 --> 00:05:32.286 society and every citizen of Russia experience and understand 90 00:05:32.286 --> 00:05:35.570 the letter and the spirit of the Fundamental Law, 91 00:05:35.570 --> 00:05:39.591 and respect them. We are well aware of our current problems 92 00:05:39.591 --> 00:05:43.820 and difficulties. We will work diligently, step by step, 93 00:05:43.820 --> 00:05:48.654 to overcome them. Together, we will certainly achieve our goals 94 00:05:48.654 --> 00:05:54.562 by fulfilling the will of our people and respecting and following 95 00:05:54.562 --> 00:05:57.784 the Constitution which they adopted. 96 00:05:57.784 --> 00:05:59.485 Let me propose a toast. 97 00:05:59.485 --> 00:06:01.526 Here’s to the Constitution of the Russian Federation! 98 00:06:01.526 --> 00:06:03.476 To our great country! 99 00:06:03.476 --> 00:06:06.753 To the well-being and prosperity of the people of Russia! 100 00:06:06.753 --> 00:06:12.509 To success in achieving our goals!