ST. PETERSBURG, December 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the transfer of the Constitutional Court to St. Petersburg with local authorities Saturday. The proposal to move the court to Russia's second largest city was made by St. Petersburg's legislature.
St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviayenko said heads of the State Duma (Russian parliament's lower house) factions "had supported the proposal unanimously... and sincerely."
She said the transfer of the Constitutional Court was highly important both for St. Petersburg and Russia as a whole.
Matviyenko asked Putin to back the court's transfer.
"I will support this proposal as soon as State Duma deputies express their opinion on the issue in a [relevant] law," Putin said.
The Constitutional Court may occupy the Senate and Synod buildings in St. Petersburg where a presidential library could be created, as well.
Putin said all Russian citizens should have access to this library.
"It will not be a traditional library but... a center promoting Russian statehood," he added.
