The Presidential Library presents the only inaugural copy of Constitution of the Russian Federation

One of the main halls of the Presidential Library in St. Petersburg is the Constitution Hall. The main exhibit in it is the only inaugural copy of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. On the original one the President of Russia takes the oath of office during the inauguration procedure. This copy was presented by the President of the Russian Federation to the Presidential Library on its opening day on May 27, 2009.

The inaugural edition of the Constitution of the Russian Federation is a specially made single copy of the Constitution, which is permanently stored in the library of the Presidential Administration in the Kremlin and is used only during the inauguration ceremony of the head of state. The binding of a special copy of the Constitution is made of the finest red varan skin, on the cover there is a silver coat of arms of Russia and the inscription "Constitution of the Russian Federation" embossed in gold. An inaugural copy of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and copies of documents confirming the taking of the oath of office in accordance with the Constitution and certified by the seals of the President and signatures of the Presidents of Russia who took office in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2018 can be seen both in the Constitution Hall of the Presidential Library located in St. Petersburg on Senatskaya, 3, as well as on a virtual tour of the Constitution Hall, presented on the Library's portal.            

The permanent exhibition of the Constitution Hall also presents printed publications, photo and newsreels, archival and other documents reflecting the history of constitutionalism in Russia from the birth of constitutional ideas to the creation and adoption of the current Constitution, as well as materials related to the development of the institution of the presidency and state symbols of Russia.

The digital collection Constitution – Basic Law is available on the portal of the Presidential Library, which is constantly updated with new documents and materials, including recordings of lectures and cultural and educational events. The collection is available to Internet users from anywhere in the world.

The collection includes texts of the constitutions of the Russian state, starting with the first Constitution of the RSFSR in 1918. The collection introduces the texts of the Сonstitutions of the USSR of 1924, 1936, 1977 (with amendments and additions), as well as the Сonstitutions of the RSFSR of 1925, 1937 and 1978.

A large section of the collection is dedicated to the current one since 1993 The Constitution of the Russian Federation in all its editions, including the one approved during the nationwide vote on July 1, 2020. The text of the document is posted in the electronic collections and published on the official portal, where readers can also learn the texts and editions of the Сonstitutions and charters of the subjects of the Russian Federation.