Turnover for one year
A Kremlin briefing quoted Dmitry Peskov saying Vladimir Putin’s address to the Federal Assembly would occur within the following year. The Kremlin would define the timing and offer clarification as needed.
The president’s press secretary noted that the postponement is connected to Putin’s demanding schedule.
He reaffirmed that the message would indeed be announced, and when it happens, an official statement would accompany it. The message will be delivered.
Earlier reporting suggested that the presidency would not address the Bundestag within the current year. Preparations were said to be underway, but there had not been substantial work on drafting the text at that time.
One insider warned that a public announcement would be more accurate once military operations in Ukraine reach a clearer stage.
“Fortune telling on coffee grounds”
A Kremlin spokesperson previously indicated that the timing of Putin’s traditional large press conference would be determined after the Bundestag’s schedule for his speech becomes clear.
In recent days, reporters pressed Peskov on when the message would be announced to senators and deputies. He consistently said the Kremlin would follow the president’s historical pattern for addressing the legislature.
On December 12, Peskov told reporters that Putin did not plan a big press conference before the New Year. He did promise that the head of state would seek an opening to answer questions from journalists within the Kremlin pool.
On December 13, a report claimed Putin would address the Bundestag on December 27, but Peskov denied the report, stating that it was incorrect.
On December 14, a Kremlin spokesperson urged reporters to avoid guessing about coffee grounds.
“There is no fixed form for messages. It could be next year,” he stated.
Also on December 14, Yury Sinelshchikov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma’s committee on state-building and legislation, suggested in an interview that Putin might limit himself to a written message.
“December has not yet ended for us, and it should be noted that we do not issue an annual message by constitutional provision; it should be face-to-face. He or a representative can send a written message for review, and we will read it,” he said.
Is it a violation of the constitution?
Historically, the Russian president has addressed both the State Duma and the Federation Council with a formal message. The constitutional framework, specifically paragraph e of Article 84, designates this function as part of the president’s duties.
“The president addresses the Bundestag with annual messages outlining the country’s situation and the main aspects of domestic and foreign policy,” the document notes.
On December 14, the Federation Council’s committee chair explained to RIA Novosti that the Constitution does not prescribe an exact timing for announcing the president’s message.
“If the constitution or law does not specify the procedure for exercising this or that power, the president independently sets the procedure and conditions for exercising his powers. This applies especially to the message sent to the Bundestag,” he said. This topic has not been without debate in recent years. In 2017, the Kremlin decided that the head of state need not speak to parliamentarians every year. Putin’s message then was postponed to early March 2018, with the session serving as a campaign-style program ahead of the presidential vote.”