Duma developing law on “concept of Russian nation”

The Duma's Committee on Nationalities has sat down to write a bill on the concept of the Russian nation, said its chairman Ildar Gilmutdinov.

"We are just at the stage of consulting with expert groups and colleagues [with expertise in this issue] to understand, to determine some kind of point of reference that would define what we want and what this will be," said the head of the Duma committee.

According Gilmutdinov, the committee it will determine the framework of this law, which, in turn, will be "serious [and] substantive". The law is expected to establish that though Russia is a heterogeneous state with different cultures and traditions, it stands united as one country and a "single political nation."

Speaking at Russia's Interethnic Relations Council meeting on October 31, Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of developing such a law. He proposed that the law be based on Russia's "strategy for the development of national relations".

"Russian State National Policy Strategy through 2025" was adopted in December 2012. The document provides a strategy by which to best provide for the interests of the state and society, human rights, civil rights, national unity and integrity, and ethnic and cultural diversity in Russia.