June 12 is Russia Day

Russia Day is the official state holiday marking the sovereignty of the Russian Federation. Russia Day is celebrated on June 12. It is one of the most recent state holidays; initially called the Day of the Adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia, and only since 2002 it has got its present name.
On June 12, 1990 the First Congress of People’s Deputies adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the RSFSR, which proclaimed equality of political parties and public organizations, accepted the principle of separation of powers and established the supremacy of the Constitution and laws of the RSFSR within its territory.
On this day, a new name of our country was adopted: the Russian Federation (Russia). The Declaration of State Sovereignty became a starting point of a state that is based on civil liberties and the rule of law.
Exactly one year later on this day presidential elections were held, which were won in the first round by Boris Yeltsin, who formalized the holiday’s name (Day of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia) and status in a special decree on June 2, 1994.
On June 12, 1994, official events to commemorate this date for were held the first time. In 1998, in a televised address to the Russians, the President suggested that the holiday be called Russia Day; the suggestion was made official in 2002.
On this day, every region across the country is hosting public events, concerts or theatrical performances.
Since 1995, on this day the President of Russian Federation traditionally hands out the state awards in sphere of science, technologies, literature and art in the Kremlin. Since 2001, the big concert on the Red Square traditionally culminates in a firework. Also on this day, every year since 2007, a youth patriotic action “Russian Ribbon” takes place, as part of which activists hand out tricolour ribbons to people.
On June 12, the citizens celebrate the national unity of the Russian people and their shared responsibility for the present and the future of the country.