The Russian Federation is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of Europe and Asia. With an area of 17,075,400 km² (6,595,600 mi²), it is the largest country in the world, covering almost twice the territory of the next-largest nation, Canada. It ranks eighth in the world in population. It shares borders with the following countries: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and North Korea. It also has maritime borders with the United States, Canada and Japan.

The population is 143,4 million people (up to January 1, 2005), over 4/5 of all population is concentrated in European part (including Ural), urban 73%; Russians make 81.5%; more than 180 nations. The Russian language is the only official state language, but the individual republics have often made their native language co-official next to Russian. Most of population is Christians (mainly orthodox), also Moslems, Jewish, Buddhist etc. live in the country.
State structure of Russian Federation is determined by the Constitution adopted in 1993.

Head of state – the president of Russian Federation, who is also Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Russian armed forces (he is elected for 4 years on the base of general equal and direct selection right). The legislative body of Russian Federation is – bicameral Federal Assembly of Russian Federation (Federal Council and State Duma).