On 19 February 2007, State Heraldry Master of the Russian Federation Georgy Vilinbakhov held a press conference in the Hermitage Theatre to comment on the 15th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Heraldry Service in Russia. Journalists' questions were also answered by Alexander Tsvetkov, the senior advisor of the Department for Consultative Organs of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation dealing with staffing and state awards; Gleb Kalashnikov, an advisor in the same department; and National Artist of Russia E.I. Ukhnalev.

To mark the anniversary, on 20 - 22 February 2007 the Heraldry Council under the President of the Russian Federation and the State Hermitage are holding a scholarly conference on Heraldry in the Modern World. The conference will deal with the following high-priority issues:

Heraldry in the Modern World - the place of heraldry in a modern state and society, its role, functions and the special features of its development in our contemporary world.

Problems posed by the terminology of heraldry - questions surrounding the application of terms of heraldry and study of coats of arms, related concepts, issues of developing and putting in place a language for heraldic descriptions.

Issues of personal and ancestral heraldry in the state and society of today - heraldic and legal questions surrounding the existing personal and ancestral coats of arms in use today.

At the same time as the scholarly conference, there is an anniversary exhibition entitled Heraldic Artists of Russia opening in the House of Scholars (St Petersburg). The exhibition presents works by members of the Heraldry Council under the President of the Russian Federation - People's Artist of Russia E.I. Ukhnalev, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation and Secretary of the Heraldry Council under the Governor of Ryazan Oblast M.K. Shelkovenko, State Councillor of the Russian Federation 3rd Class M.Yu. Medvedev, Chief Heraldry Master under the President of the Republic Mari El and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation I.V. Efimov and Member of the Commission on Symbols of Sverdlovsk Oblast A.K. Grefenshtein. The exhibition will also acquaint visitors with the artistic legacy of R.I. Melanichev, author of reconstructions and sketches of historical banners and orders, uniforms of Russian troops and badges of martial valor, numerous stylized renderings of state eagles, noble coats of arms, symbols of contemporary republican Russia.

In 1992, the State Heraldry Service was re-established in Russia (such a service existed in the Russian Empire from 1722 until 1917) and the principle of a single state policy in the field of heraldry was announced. Initially the service was set up as the State Heraldry Service under the Government of the Russian Federation. In that same year, 1992, it was transferred to Rosarkhiv, and in 1993 it was transformed into the Department of Heraldry. In 1994, the service was moved to the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation as an independent subdivision of the Administration, with the name “State Heraldry under the President of the Russian Federation.” Finally, in 1999 the heraldry office was turned into the Heraldry Council under the President of the Russian Federation.

The founder and constant leader of the Heraldry Service has been Georgy Vilinbakhov, who bears the title of State Heraldry Master and carries out his duties as a volunteer. At present the Heraldry Council consists of 21 members (who also work in the council as unpaid volunteers) and a paid staff of two, who are employees of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation.

The Heraldry Service is called upon to provide professional assistance in the creation of symbols and to assist in applying the rules of heraldry in a productive manner. Official symbols such as coats of arms or seals, flags, emblems, awards and orders and uniforms are sent to the Heraldry Council for an expert evaluation. The Council keeps track of official symbols in the State Heraldry Register and also develops and disseminates methodological recommendations. It conducts conferences and seminars.

The Heraldry Service provides an official state funciton in the field of symbols. The service was directly involved in the creation of the state seal and flag of Russia, as well as state awards and orders of our country, symbols of the Presidential Office, emblems of federal organizations and of the executive branch of government. It helped prepare the texts of laws, government directives and other legislative acts concerning official symbols. The service participates in shaping the system of uniforms for the military and civil servants, the system of administrative awards and marks of distinction. The service helps create symbols for the regions, awards and symbols of the heads of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It carries on a wide-ranging program of assistance to municipalities which are creating seals, flags and other symbols. To date, the Heraldry Council has introduced into the State Heraldry Register the almost 3000 different heraldry symbols which have been confirmed in the country from1991 through 2007.

The Heraldry Service developed the inauguration ceremony of the President. It helped organize the state burial in St Petersburg of the remains of Emperor Nicholas II, members of his family and those close to him. It participated in arranging the removal from Denmark to St Petersburg of the remains of Empress Maria Fedorovna, as well as the holding of many other state and regional ceremonies.

The Heraldry Service conducts a major program of research and education, including a series of publications and a recently opened internet portal "Symbols of Russia."

Georgy Vilinbakhov, State Heraldry Master of the Russian Federation

Yevgeny Ukhnalev, People’s Artist of Russia, a member of the Heraldic Council operating under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation

Gleb Kalashnikov, an advisor of the Department for Consultative Organs of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation dealing with staffing and state awards

Alexander Tsvetkov, the senior advisor of the Department for Consultative Organs of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation dealing with staffing and state awards