The President of Russia, as the highest ruling person of the country, in accordance with the rules has its own symbols of presidential power. Depending on the country, they may vary slightly, but their transfer at the time of the inauguration of the new president is mandatory, otherwise the power is simply not transferred.
History reference
Symbols of the presidential power of the Russian Federation originate from royal regalia. Just as all-Russian emperors had a crown, a scepter and a power, the current rulers must have material attributes of power.
The first attempts to introduce into law compulsory subjects that serve as symbols of presidential power in the Russian state were made back in the days of the Soviet Union. In 1991, the law "On assuming the office of the President of the RSFSR" indicated that the head of state must have a round seal, and the flag of the country was hoisted in his places of residence. However, such signs were not officially approved symbols of presidential power.
Only in 1993, after the repeal of this law, did President Boris Yeltsin begin to affirm with his decrees the symbolism of his dominant position in the country. Over time, the laws strengthened the official symbols of presidential power in the Russian Federation, which are still used today.
Presidential Standard
At the time of his assumption, Yeltsin used a special flag, which was considered the first standard - the main symbol of presidential power. However, the crimson cloth after the collapse of the USSR could no longer play its role, so it was not officially approved.
Only in February 1994 did the president’s standard serve as a symbol of presidential power. It was at that time that its official appearance was also approved. In itself, it represents a flag, the panel of which consists of 3 stripes of various colors. Horizontal stripes are painted in white, blue and red shades. In the very center was the emblem of the country - a two-headed eagle in gold color.
The standard itself is bordered on all sides by a gold fringe, and the shaft on which the canvas was planted is crowned with a metal blade depicted in the form of a spear. The presence in one subject of two official symbols of the country at once - the state flag and coat of arms, as it were, emphasizes the dominant position of the standard, which makes it the clearest symbol of the president’s power.
Using the standard
The standard is that symbol of presidential power, which must always be in the office of the president for the entire term of his reign. However, its transfer is accompanied by a number of nuances. First of all, during the inauguration of the new president, he must be brought to the solemn hall together with the state flag, and then set it on the right side.
As soon as the president makes his oath, a duplicate of this standard must be raised above the dome in the official residence of the head of state located in the Kremlin. The standard itself is transferred to the office, where it is located on the left side of the president’s table.
They take him out of there only during particularly large events or the president’s annual messages to the legislative bodies. However, in essence, the standard is obliged to constantly follow the president himself on his trips around the country.
Presidential Badge
Another symbol of presidential power in the Russian Federation is the sign of the president. Officially, it consists of two objects - the chain and the sign itself. It was approved only in August 1996 by law No. 1138. However, its final appearance was described only in a presidential decree, published only 3 years later. Despite the fact that it is stored in the hall of the awards of the Grand Kremlin Palace, by its very nature it is not at all a state award. Such placement occurred solely due to the fact that the symbol in appearance is based on the Order of Merit to the Fatherland.
Appearance
The sign itself is an equilateral cross made of gold. Its ends are gradually expanding. The distance between the ends of this cross is necessarily 60 millimeters. The entire front side of the sign is covered with ruby ​​enamel, and in the very middle there is an image of the state emblem of the Russian Federation as an overlay. On the reverse side of the symbol there is also a round medallion on which the motto “Benefit, Honor and Glory” is embossed, as well as the date of creation of the sign itself - 1994 and bay leaves on the bottom of the medallion. A laurel wreath also acts as a link for the chain and sign.
The chain itself is also considered a symbol. It is made of silver, gold and enamel. There are 17 links in total. 8 sockets of the chain are round with the same motto as on the medallion, and 9 in the form of the national emblem of the country. On the back of the links are special lining made of white enamel. They are engraved in golden letters with the name of F. I. O. of each of the presidents of the country, as well as the years they took office for each chosen term.
Using the Presidential Badge
The use of this symbol of presidential power is entirely dependent on existing protocol standards. The first time he was entrusted to Yeltsin during his second rise to power in 1996. Then he transferred it to Putin's shoulders, and he, accordingly, to Medvedev in his office at the time of the transfer of affairs. In other situations, the mark is located on the left side of the tribune during the oath. At the same time, the outgoing president necessarily mentions the transfer of the mark as an imperious symbol. During Putin’s first rule from 2000 to 2008, the sign was not worn during the ceremony, but was constantly on a pedestal on a red pillow.
Lost symbol
In 1996, President Yeltsin approved another symbol of presidential power in the country. They served as a special copy of the Constitution of the country. It was made in a single copy. It contains the official text of the main law of the country, approved in 1993. The cover is interlaced with scarlet lamb leather, it also has the state emblem of the Russian Federation made of silver and the golden inscription “Constitution of the Russian Federation”.
At the moment, in May 2000, Vladimir Putin abolished the special Constitution as one of the symbols of the presidential power in the country, but the book still has its value, albeit as a tradition. It is on it that the country's presidents swear allegiance upon assuming office.
It is used exclusively during the inauguration of the President of the country, and in all other cases it is constantly stored in the Library of the President of the Russian Federation on the third floor of the Senate building in the Kremlin. And to this day there is no official description of this symbol.
All the above symbols of power of the head of state are transferred from the president to the president directly on the day he takes office.