State-of-the-nation addresses of Russian leaders: from 1994 to 2013

President Boris Yeltsin addressed the Russian parliament for the first time in February 1994. His speech focused on the consolidation of Russia. In 1995, Yeltsin’s address to the parliament was dedicated to the effectiveness of the state power. Photo: Boris Yeltsin. February 16, 1995

In his 1996 address Yeltsin announced that “the new building of the Russian statehood” had been built and highlighted the parliament’s role in Russia’s development

In February 1997, Yeltsin spoke about Russia's problems including corruption, salary and pension delays and the necessity to establish law and order in the country

In February 1998, Yeltsin summed up the previous year, which he described as a year of political stability. He also called for measures against unemployment and pointed to a small growth of the GDP and industrial output. Photo: Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and First Deputy Prime Ministers Anatoly Chubais and Boris Nemtsov listening to Yeltsin’s address. February 17, 1998

In March 1999 Yeltsin spoke about the consequences of the financial crisis that hit Russia in August 1998 that, according to the president, was caused by the mistakes made during the transition from the socialist to market economy

Vladimir Putin delivered his first state-of-the-nation address in July 2000. In his 48-minute speech the newly elected president spoke about Russia’s demographic problems and the fight against shadow economy. Photo: Vladimir Putin and State Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznyov. July 8, 2000

In April 2001 Putin set the tasks of upgrading the pension and labor legislation and carrying out judicial and administrative reforms in Russia

Putin’s 2002 state-of-the-nation address focused on the army reform and improvement of Russia’s competitiveness in global economy. Photo: Vladimir Putin and State Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznyov. April 12, 2002

In 2003 Putin spoke about national security issues and improvement of living standards in Russia. Photo: Presidential chief of staff Vladislav Surkov talking to State Duma deputies Vyacheslav Volodin and Vladimir Pekhtin ahead of Putin’s address to the parliament. May 16, 2003

In May 2004, the president’s address focused on health, education, budget and transport infrastructure reforms. He also called for reducing inflation to 3 percent

In 2005 Putin set the tasks of cancelling inheritance tax and nominating regional governors by parties, which won local elections. Photo: Journalists watching Vladimir Putin’s state-of-the-nation address on TV. April 25, 2005

In 2006 Putin named demography as Russia’s key problem. He proposed a set of measures to reduce Russia’s death rate and increase birth rate, including the maternity capital payments. Photo: Vladimir Putin and Federation Council (upper house) Speaker Sergei Mironov. May 10, 2006

The presidential state-of-the-nation address is delivered in the presence of parliament and government members, chairmen of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, the prosecutor general, heads of the Audit Chamber and Central Election Commission, religious leaders, governors and other top officials. Photo: First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov and deputy chief of the Kremlin press service Dmitry Peskov entering the Kremlin’s Marble Hall ahead of Putin’s address to the parliament. April 26, 2007

In 2007, Putin proposed suspending the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) and outlined a set of social measures. Vladimir Putin and Federation Council (upper house) Speaker Sergei Mironov. April 6, 2007

Dmitry Medvedev addressed the Russian parliament as president four times. In his first address Medvedev spoke about Georgia’s aggression in South Ossetia and the global financial crisis. He also proposed extending the presidential and parliamentary terms to six and five years, respectively. Photo: Dmitry Medvedev and his aides preparing for the state-of-the-nation address. November 2, 2008

The 2009 address was the longest since 1994 and lasted for one hour and 39 minutes. Medvedev spoke about the introduction of new information, medical and energy technologies and development of space and telecommunications systems in Russia. He also proposed creating a Russian analogue of the Silicon Valley

In 2010 Medvedev made public the concept of his annual speech address for the first time before delivering the address on November 30, 2010. He focused on Russia’s modernization, political and legal reforms

In his last address made on December 22, 2011, Medvedev proposed returning to direct gubernatorial elections and easing the registration procedure for political parties.

Vladimir Putin delivered his first state-of-the-nation address after the reelection on Russia’s Constitution Day, December 12, 2012

In 2012 he outlined tasks for his new six-year term and proposed bans on foreign bank accounts for Russian civil servants

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, presidential chief of staff Sergei Ivanov and President Vladimir Putin talking after the state-of-the-nation address. December 12, 2012

In 2013, the state-of-the-nation address was also delivered on December 12, when Russia marked the 25th anniversary of its Constitution

Putin highlighted the importance to fight capital outflow, develop the local self-government system and protect Russia’s traditional values. The address lasted for one hour and eight minutes