The Constitution of the Russian Federation

Concluding and Interim Provisions

1. The Constitution of the Russian Federation shall come into force from the moment of its official pub­lication according to the results of the national refer­endum.

The day of the national referendum, December 12, 1993, shall be considered the day of adopting the Con­stitution of the Russian Federation.

At the same time the Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian Federation — Russia adopted on April 12, 1978 with all amendments and additions shall cease to have effect.

In the event of the non-conformity to the Consti­tution of the Russian Federation of the provisions of the Federation Treaty — Treaty on the division of sub­jects of jurisdiction and powers between federal State government bodies of the Russian Federation and the State government bodies of constituent sovereign re­publics of the Russian Federation, the Treaty on the division of subjects of jurisdiction and powers between federal State government bodies of the Russian Fed­eration and the State government bodies of krays, ob-lasts, and the cities of Moscow and St.Petersburg of the Russian Federation, the Treaty on the division of subjects of jurisdiction and powers between federal State government bodies of the Russian Federation and State government bodies of autonomous oblasts and autonomous okrugs within the Russian Federation, and other treaties between federal State government bodies of the Russian Federation and State government bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation and treaties between State government bodies of con­stituent entities of the Russian Federation, the provi­sions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation shall apply.

2. Laws and other legal acts which were in force on the territory of the Russian Federation before this Con­stitution comes into force shall apply to the extent that they do not conflict with the Constitution of the Rus­sian Federation.

3. The President of the Russian Federation, elected in accordance with the Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian Federation — Russia, shall from the day that this Constitution comes into force exercise the powers established by it until the term of office for which he (she) was elected expires.

4. The Council of Ministers — Government of the Russian Federation — from the moment that this Con­stitution comes into force, shall acquire the rights, obligations and responsibilities of the Government of the Russian Federation which are established by the Con­stitution of the Russian Federation and shall hereafter be called the Government of the Russian Federation.

5. The courts of the Russian Federation shall ad­minister justice in accordance with their powers as es­tablished by this Constitution.

After the Constitution has come into force, judges of all courts of the Russian Federation shall retain their powers until the term for which they were elected ex­pires. Vacant positions shall be filled in accordance with the procedure established by this Constitution.

6. Until the adoption and implementation of the federal law which establishes the procedure for the ex­amination of cases by a court of jury, the existing pro­cedure for the court examination of corresponding cases shall apply.

Until criminal-procedural legislation of the Russian Federation has been brought into line with the provi­sions of this Constitution, the previous procedure for the arrest, detention and keeping in custody of persons suspected of committing a crime shall apply.

7. The Federation Council of the first convocation and the State Duma of the first convocation shall be elected for a period of two years.

8. The Federation Council shall meet for its first session on the thirtieth day after the elections. The first session of the Federation Council shall be opened by the President of the Russian Federation.

9. A deputy of the State Duma of the first convo­cation may be simultaneously a member of the Gov­ernment of the Russian Federation. Provisions of this Constitution on the immunity of deputies with respect to responsibility for actions (inaction) connected with the fulfilment of their official duties shall not extend to deputies of the State Duma who are members of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Deputies of the Federation Council of the first con­vocation shall exercise their powers on a non-perma­nent basis.