DUSHANBE, March 12, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Ms. Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of Russia’s upper house (Federation Council) of parliament, is expected to arrive in Dushanbe on a two-day official visit today afternoon.

“Today, Russian parliamentary speaker is scheduled to hold talks with the head of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev,” a source at the Majlisi Milli told Asia-Plus in an interview. 

A session of the commission of upper houses of Tajik and Russian parliaments for cooperation will take place in Dushanbe today as well, the source said.   

According to him, Russia’s Federation Council speaker will hold talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on March 13.

On the same day, she will meet with speaker of Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament Shukurjon Zuhurov and visit Russian Embassy and headquarters of Russian military base in Dushanbe, the source added.

Ms. Valentina Matviyenko is expected to give an exclusive interview to news agency Asia-Plus.         

Federation Council is the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia (the parliament of the Russian Federation), according to the 1993 Constitution of the Russian Federation.  Each of the 83 federal subjects of Russia – consisting of 21 republics, 46 oblasts, nine krais, two federal cities, four autonomous okrugs, and one autonomous oblast – sends two senators to the Council, for a total membership of 166 Councilors.  Sessions of the Federation Council are held in Moscow from January 25 to July 15, and from September 16 to December 31.

The Chairperson of the Federation Council is the third important position after the President and the Prime Minister. In the case of incapacity of the President and Prime Minister, the chairman of the upper house of parliament becomes Acting President of Russia.