Legal status of the Russian Red Cross enshrined in law

The Federal Law defines the legal status, objectives, tasks, and the organisational and property basis for the operations of the Russian Red Cross Society national public association.

In accordance with the Federal Law, the Russian Red Cross Society is a national public association that is the legal successor to the Union of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of the USSR, continuing the traditions of the Society for the Care of the Wounded and Sick Soldiers, established on May 15, 1867, and renamed the Russian Red Cross Society in 1879. It is the only operating national Red Cross society in the Russian Federation and a participant in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The Federal Law stipulates that, in its activities, the Russian Red Cross shall adhere to the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality, as set forth in the Charter of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The Federal Law further establishes the structure of the Russian Red Cross, its governing bodies, the rights and obligations of its members, procedures for property use, and the forms of support to be provided to the Russian Red Cross by state authorities and local self-government bodies.