Often described as a “most powerful woman in Russia”, Valentina Matvienko, was talked about this week. If she has the habit of standing far from the spotlight, Valentina Matvienko, participated in a summit of the presidents of parliaments. Despite the many Western sanctions that affect Russia, she went to this event that was held in Switzerland from July 29 to 31.
Russian heroine
At 76, Valentina Matvienko is the highest placed in Russia. Vice Prime Minister responsible for social affairs under Boris Yeltsin and former governor of Saint Petersburg, she now chairs the upper room of the Parliament. In 2014, she did not hesitate to support the annexation of Crimea by Russia, which has already earned her sanctions from the European Union and a suspension of American visa. Valentina Matvienko also supported various laws that have restricted press freedom, NGOs and Internet in the country. Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it has supported the idea that the country must be “denazified” and that the conflict is “necessary”. While other people, like former Defense Minister Sergei Choigou, were dismissed by Putin, Valentina Matvienko is one of the few people to stay in her near circle, still following the line of power. The president of the Kremlin did not hesitate to give him one of the greatest distinctions in the country, the title of “heroine of Russia”. He thus praised it for “his unwavering loyalty to the State and for his role in strengthening the authoritarian system implemented by Putin”.
A controversial presence in Switzerland
This Monday, Valentina Matvienko was seen in the 15th Summit of the Presidents of Parliament in Geneva Monday. Russian television has also broadcast images on which it can be seen from an airplane, a bouquet of flowers in hand. On the event website, we learn that the objective of this is to “Gather women occupying the highest decision -making functions within parliaments in order to define the parliamentary program according to political, economic, environmental and social developments which require unified and gender -sensitive global governance solutions”.
A year after his release from a Russian prison, this former prisoner lost everything: “No more houses, no more car, more job …”
However, this “Kremlin heroine” is targeted by sanctions in Switzerland, the United States and the European Union because of its active support for the war in Ukraine. Switzerland, host countries, temporarily lifted sanctions to facilitate its participation in the event.
His presence was therefore widely criticized, Andrii Tykhyi, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling it “shame” on X: “It does not deserve flowers, but a ticket for the Hague, where the Russian aggression trial will soon begin.”
To access this article, please connect to the Internet.