Tagged: Russia

According to Petsinclude, the government of Russia is a semi-presidential republic with the President as head of state and the Prime Minister as head of government. The President is elected by popular vote and is responsible for appointing the Prime Minister, cabinet members and other government officials. The Prime Minister then forms the government and manages public affairs. The legislature in Russia is bicameral with an upper house called the Federation Council which consists of appointed representatives from each region. This body has limited legislative powers, mainly related to economic and social matters such as taxation, labor laws, trade regulations and public education. Russia operates a multi-party system with parties representing a range of political ideologies from left to right. The current ruling party is United Russia which has been in power since 2008. This party supports economic growth through market liberalization while also providing social welfare programs to protect vulnerable citizens. Russia has been successful in reducing unemployment levels in recent years while also increasing investment in infrastructure projects such as railways, airports and roads. Russia has also invested heavily in renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar energy with an aim to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels while also tackling climate change issues. In addition to this, Russia has invested in research & development projects with an aim to improve technology standards across many industries. Russia is one of the world’s most influential countries and its foreign relations are of great importance. The country is a member of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). It is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Russia has close diplomatic ties with many countries around the world. It has traditionally enjoyed strong relations with other former Soviet republics such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Tajikistan. The country also maintains strong economic ties with China and India. Russia also has close ties with European countries such as Germany, France, Italy and Spain. In terms of foreign policy, Russia pursues an independent path that seeks to protect its national interests first and foremost. It has been a vocal advocate for nuclear disarmament and has signed several major arms control treaties in recent years including New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). Additionally, it seeks to strengthen regional stability through initiatives such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) which it founded in 2002 along with several other post-Soviet states. Russia’s involvement in international affairs is often controversial due to its support for separatist movements in Ukraine and Georgia as well as its alleged interference in US elections. Additionally, it faces criticism over its human rights record both at home and abroad including its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government during the Syrian civil war. However, despite these issues Russia remains an important player on the global stage largely due to its significant oil reserves, nuclear arsenal and permanent seat on the UN Security Council. See relationshipsplus for Russia defense and foreign policy.