Senators supported the candidacy of former head of the Pskov region Andrei Turchak for the post of deputy speaker of the Council of Federation. According to the head of the upper chamber Valentina Matvienko, the election of Turchak will strengthen a number of areas of work of the Federation Council. Turchak himself recalled that in 2007-2009 he represented in the upper house of the Russian parliament the Pskov Oblast Assembly of Deputies. In addition, he added, an important role in the work in the new position will be his more than eight years of experience as governor of the Pskov region. "This will allow me to fulfill the duties of deputy chairman with honor," Turchak said.. Member of the upper chamber of the Belgorod region Nikolai Ryzhkov noted that he had worked with Turchak for two years in one committee. "We have very good impressions of him," he said.. At the same time, the senator noted that in recent years many former regional leaders have come to the Federation Council, who will now set an example and help less experienced members of the upper house. I was lucky to work with the new vice-speaker of the upper house and the senator from the Pskov region Elena Bibikova. A note on his election as deputy speaker of the Council of Federation was made only by the senator from Tyva Lyudmila Narusova. According to her, the combination of positions in the General Council of United Russia and the Federation Council requires a "huge return". In addition, Narusova saw in the election of Turchak "a contradiction with the principle of multi-party system".

However, most of the senators led by the Speaker of the Council of Federation Valentina Matvienko did not agree with her colleague. "Who belongs to which party, it does not matter at all. I personally do not know who belongs to which party, "- said the chairman of the upper house of parliament.

In turn, Nikolai Ryzhkov noted that the Soviets do not have the principle of partisanship. "Any of us can engage in party activities, but this can not be done within the walls of the Federation Council. High post of Andrei Anatolyevich (Turchak). - Prim. Red. ) in the party is his own business and duty, "added the senator from the Belgorod region. Earlier in the Federation Council adopted a resolution on increasing the number of deputies of the head of the upper house.

As noted by Valentina Matvienko, the decision was taken on the basis of Article 17 of the upper house rules.

In mid-October, Andrei Turchak resigned as governor of the Pskov region at his own request. At the same time, the Prime Minister and chairman of United Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, appointed him acting Secretary of the General Council of the Party.

In early November, the Pskov regional assembly of deputies elected the former governor as senator. For his candidacy, the overwhelming majority of members of the local parliament voted.