Why is Russia always referred to as the Russian Federation instead of just Russia?

Question

Why is Russia always referred to as the Russian Federation instead of just Russia?

Answer 1

Russian Federation is official name for Russia. But people usually call it Russia, because the word Russia is shorter than Russian Federation. It's like The United States of America and America or US.

Answer 2

That's its alternate name; the Federation consists of 83 federal subjects.  

Answer 3

yeah Russia is a federal country thats y it s called the federation of Russia, but the name underlines that the country is hude and Russia always liked to underline that..