As expected, on Monday, the governor of St. Petersburg - Valentina Matvienko - will announce her decision about heading the Federation Council. On Friday, during President Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with a group of Russian regions’ heads, President of Bashkiriya Rustam Khamitov nominated Matvienko to be the next speaker of Federation Council. Medvedev supported the idea and Matvienko promised to announce her decision after the weekend.
As expected, on Monday, the governor of St. Petersburg - Valentina Matvienko - will announce her decision about heading the Federation Council. On Friday, during President Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with a group of Russian regions’ heads, President of Bashkiriya Rustam Khamitov nominated Matvienko to be the next speaker of Federation Council. Medvedev supported the idea and Matvienko promised to announce her decision after the weekend.
She is no amateur in politics. In 1989, Matvienko was elected as a people’s deputy of USSR. Later Matvienko served in the diplomatic service.
1998-2003, Matvienko held the post of deputy prime minister of Russia.
On 19 March, 2003 she was appointed presidential envoy to the Northwestern Federal District.
Valentina Matviyenko has been the governor of St Petersburg since October 5, 2003.
Valentina Matviyenko has an active lifestyle and is a great tennis fan.
It is well known that the governor’s favorite football team is Zenit.
She is a frequent guest at various informal events. Photo: 2006. Governor of St Petersburg Valentina Matviyenko at a carnival to celebrate St Petersburg’s 300-year anniversary.
Valentina Matvienko is concerned about the appearance of the city on Neva River. The governor of St Petersburg is a regular member of city-wide “subbotniks” – “voluntary cleaning days”
Until recently, she was the only female governor in Russia (On February 8, 2010 Natalya Komarova became the head of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug).
Valentina Matvienko is an honorary Doctor of the Russian Military-Medical Academy (RMMA). She was the first woman to hold RMMA’s diploma, medal and mantle on Feb 5, 1999.
