Chairperson of Russia’s upper house (Federation Council) of parliament, Mrs. Valentina Matviyenko, will arrive in Dushanbe on October 13 on a two-day visit.

The purpose of the visit is for her to participate in the 5th International Forum “”Russia-Tajikistan: Potential of Inter-Region Cooperation” that will take place in Dushanbe..

While in Dushanbe, Matviyenko will also hold talks with her Tajik counterpart Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, who heads Tajikistan’s upper house (Majlisi Milli) of parliament, and President Emomali Rahmon. 

Valentina Matviyenko (born 7 April 1949) is a Russian politician who was Governor of Saint Petersburg from 2003 to 2011, and has served as Chairman of the Federation Council since 2011.  Matviyenko was considered, until recent years, to be the highest-ranking female politician in Russia.

The Federation Council is the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia (the parliament of the Russian Federation).  Each of the 85 federal subjects of Russia – consisting of 22 republics, 46 oblasts, nine krais, three federal cities, four autonomous okrugs, and one autonomous oblast – sends two senators to the Council, for a total membership of 170 Councilors.

Sessions of the Federation Council are held in Moscow from January 25 to July 15, and from September 16 to December 31. 

For purposes of succession, the chairperson of the Federation Council is the third highest position, after the president and the prime minister.  In the case of incapacity of the President and Prime Minister, the chairman of the Federation Council becomes Acting President of the Russian Federation.