The Russian State Duma has opened its autumn session with a minute's silence for the victims of the summer heat wave. The MPs then focused on how to prevent such widespread destruction in the future.

The session also saw in attendance a key member of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Janez Lenarcic.

As part of the first working day, a meeting of heads of OSCE states was planned, where the attendants were thought to review the functioning of the organization. Mr Lenarcic said his visit to Moscow comes at a very important moment, as he believes his bureau's relations with Russia are improving.

“The relation between our office and the Russian Federation in the past have not always been smooth, there were some misunderstandings and some false perceptions and I’m here – as I try to come here every year – to try to deal with and overcome those perceptions and misunderstandings. I have to say we’ve been able to overcome many and we’ve been able to establish good cooperation with the Russian Federation,” Lenarcic told RT.