Andrea Innocenti At a joint meeting of the ruling party's top brass, Russian Security Council Deputy Advisor Dmitry Medvedev announced the establishment of a new parliamentary committee dedicated to digital development, artificial intelligence , and e-commerce. The decision, made Thursday, represents an attempt to consolidate into a single legislative body policies on technology sectors that have previously been scattered across multiple committees.
The Committee on Digital Development, AI and Drones
The Honorable Alexander Sidyakin has been appointed president of the new body. Sidyakin, who chairs the Central Executive Committee of United Russia, has previously led drone -related initiatives for military operations in Ukraine. His experience in technology and, previously, in drafting the controversial law on "foreign agents," makes him a key figure in guiding the country's digital strategy.
Tasks and areas of intervention
The committee will be responsible for defining rules for online markets, regulating civil airspace, overseeing the development of drones for both military and civilian use, and drafting a national strategy for artificial intelligence . Furthermore, the commission will also be responsible for addressing issues related to the creative industries, thus bringing many previously fragmented responsibilities under a single decision-making umbrella.
The new Committee for Criminal and Administrative Legislation
At the same time, the Duma decided to create a second commission, the Committee on Criminal and Administrative Legislation, headed by Yury Petrov, a member of United Russia. This unit was separated from the Committee on State Building and Legislation , which handled up to a quarter of the lower house's bills and worked closely with Kremlin lawyers.
Reasons for rebalancing
The shift in responsibilities was promoted by Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin , who called on the government to reduce the workload of the former committee. The decision was supported by Vladimir Putin , who confirmed Volodin's continued tenure as head of the chamber.
Election prospects and the dominance of United Russia
The political landscape unfolds just days before parliamentary elections. United Russia is expected to win 349 of the 450 available seats in the Duma, with the final results scheduled for publication on Friday. This majority will allow the party to lead both new committees and shape legislation on technology, the digital economy, and criminal justice for the next five years.
The entire operation signals a desire to centralize control over sectors considered strategic for national security and economic growth, while the composition of the committees suggests a close synergy between technical and legislative functions.