OREANDA-NEWS. November 11, 2009. The law defines their special legal status and educational activities. Under its provisions, the universities are recognised as federal state budget-funded institutions with the Russian Government being their founder and approving their charters. The universities’ rectors are appointed and released by the President of Russia.

The universities set independently their education standards and requirements and have the right to organise additional entry examinations and confer their own diplomas, which are equivalent in status to state-recognised diplomas.

Mr Medvedev instructed the Education and Science Ministry to draw up together with the universities’ management specific programmes for developing Russia’s two leading universities.