In St. Petersburg, discussions unfolded between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Valery Zorkin, who serves as the head of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation. The encounter was reported by the press service of the Kremlin, signaling a high-level exchange about the country’s judicial and constitutional framework.
The meeting occurred late on Thursday evening, September 12. The dialogue touched on the practical realities facing the Constitutional Court, including how the court handles its docket and the way complaints flow into the system. According to Zorkin, the court has seen a shift in the number of filings, noting that 19 thousand complaints had previously been received and that the figure has now dropped to 11 thousand. He added that while the workload has changed, he could not claim a dramatic shift in the overall pace of work compared to the preceding period, implying a normalization process rather than an abrupt alteration in the court’s operations. The figures reflect ongoing adjustments in how civil society engages with constitutional review and how the court prioritizes cases of varying significance.
Zorkin emphasized a constitutional principle: Russia’s basic law does not permit the establishment of a single dominating ideology. This framework is described as creating a common space for diverse views and opinions within the country. The chairman explained that this prohibition is meant to safeguard the freedom of citizens from any state-imposed or monolithic ideology that would otherwise impose a unifying narrative. He argued that a plural public space, rather than a single ideological directive, is what helps the nation recognize multiple peoples and backgrounds as part of the national fabric. In his view, the constitution anchors room for varied beliefs while maintaining civic cohesion.
Earlier remarks from Zorkin suggested that the decisions of the ICC regarding Russia may lack a certain legal basis in the eyes of some observers. The evolving dialogue around these institutional decisions highlights ongoing debates about jurisdiction, sovereignty, and the interpretation of constitutional prerogatives within the national legal system. The conversation reflects a broader discourse on how constitutional bodies interact with international norms and how Russia defines its legal identity on the global stage.