MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax-AVN) - In accordance with the defense minister's order, 30 members of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, were promoted as reserve officers, Valeri Pomogaybin, administration chief of the Federation Council's Defense and Security Committee, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
The promoted senators will be given the new insignia on Friday at a reception dedicated to Fatherland Defender's Day to be run by Federation Council Chairman Sergei Mironov, Pomogaybin said.
"The reception to be held February 21 to celebrate Fatherland Defender's Day will be attended by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and other top military, war veterans, retired generals, and active servicemen awarded Hero of Russia medal. In the reception, the defense minister's order promoting about 30 Federation Council members who took part in the this year's reserve officers' training in the General Staff Academy will be announced, and the promoted will be given the new insignia," he said.