Putin to address new Russian State Duma

Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the newly-elected State Duma on October 5, as the legislative body hold its first plenary meeting since last month's elections.

The September 18 parliamentary vote gave the ruling United Russia party a constitutional majority in the lower parliament house.

Three other parties that support most of Putin’s policies - the Communist Party, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and A Fair Russia - won Duma seats, while liberal Kremlin critics were kept out of the chamber.

The United Russia got 343 seats, the Communist Party got 42, the Liberal Democrat Party – 39, A Fair Russia – 23, Rodina and Civic Platform – one each.