The first-ever plenary session of the Russian Public Chamber was held in the Kremlin last Sunday. President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

In his message V. Putin admitted that neither the executive nor the legislative branches of power were enthusiastic about the Public Chamber coming into being. As he said, members of the Public Chamber, with their ideas and proposals, "are not welcome anywhere". However, believes V. Putin, the Public Chamber may become "an authoritative organ that can prove, by its deeds, its effectiveness and firm commitment to principles". The Russian president admitted that members of the Public Chamber "have already done highly positive work in this field by having made specific proposals concerning the legal foundations for non-governmental organizations' activities".

After the President's address, the Public Chamber elected its governing bodies. Eugeny Velikhov, president of the Russian Scientific Center "Kurchatov Institute" and academician of the Russian Academy of Science, was elected Secretary of the Public Chamber. His candidature was unanimously supported by members of the Public Chamber. Sergei Katyrin, vice-president of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was elected Deputy Secretary of the Public Chamber.

The Chamber also elected chairmen of various commissions.

The commission for ethics, order of business and improvement of activity and legislation will be headed by Vladimir Fedosov, chairman of international public organization "Federation of Peace and Accord". The commission for preserving cultural and spiritual heritage will be headed by metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk, father Kliment.

The commission for public participation in implementing national projects will be headed by Mrs. Maria Slobodskaya, president of Institute of Civil Society Problems. Alexander Shokhin, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, will chair the commission for competitive ability, economic development and entrepreneurship.

The commission for problems of globalism and national strategy and development will be headed by Andranik Migranian, political scientist, chairman of the scientific council of the CIS Institute. The commission for international cooperation and public diplomacy will be chaired by Viacheslav Nikonov, president of "Politika" Foundation.

The commission for regional development and local self-government will be chaired by Viacheslav Glazychev, professor of the Department of Theory and History of Architecture at the Moscow Institute of Architecture. The commission for health will be chaired by Leonid Roshal, director of the Moscow Research Institute of Emergency Surgery for Children.

The commission for communications, information policy and freedom of speech will be headed by Pavel Gusev, editor-in-chief of the "Moskovski Komsomolets" newspaper, president of the Moscow Union of Journalists. The commission for public control over activities of law-enforcement authorities will be chaired by Anatoly Kucherena, lawyer.

The commission for safety and protection of environment will be chaired by Vladimir Zakharov, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, head of regional public organization "Center for Russia's Ecological Policy". The renowned heart surgeon Leo Bokeria will head the commission for promoting a healthy way of life. L. Bokeria is president of the Russian national public organization "League for Nation's Health", director of the A.N. Bakulev Research Center for Cardiovascular Surgery of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.

The commission for problems of tolerance and freedom of conscience will be chaired by Valery Tishkov, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, director of the N.N. Miklukho-Maclay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The commission for problems of cultural promotion will be headed by Alexander Kaliagin, art director of "Et Cetera" theater, chairman of the Russian Union of Theater Workers.

The commission for problems of the nation's intellectual potential will be chaired by Yaroslav Kuzminov, rector of the State University – Higher Scholl of Economics, editor-in-chief of the "Problems of Education" magazine. The commission for promoting charity, clemency and social work will be chaired by Vladimir Potanin, head of "Interros" company, member of the board of directors of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

The commission for social development will be headed by Mrs. Alexandra Ochirova, president of international charity organization International Women's Center "Future of Woman".