MOSCOW. – Renowned Russian-Armenian polar explorer and former Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma, Arthur Chilingarov, formally began his duties as Russian Federation Council (upper chamber of the Russian parliament) member, on Friday. 

During the Council’s session, on the same day, Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko presented Chilingarov his senator’s certificate, RIA Novosti News Agency of Russia informed.           

In October, Chilingarov was elected member of Tula Oblast’s regional Council of Representatives and he resigned from his mandate as State Duma deputy. And on November 11, he received his credential as Tula administration’s MP.       

Arthur Chilingarov is an MP in all five State Dumas, and he has “Hero of Russia” and “Hero of Soviet Union” titles for his polar explorations. Also, he is decorated with the Mesrop Mashtots Award and given the Anania Shirakatsi Medal for his active contribution to the Russian-Armenian community. 

And during his last expedition to the North Pole, Chilingarov had raised Armenia’s national flag.