Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that "being powerful" is the key to Russia's “statehood, independence and mere existence.”
Addressing Russia's new State Duma on its first official day of work, Putin said that the new parliament should continue to keep the country in a position of influence.
"Every nation and every country has the right to be powerful, as does [Russia]," he said. "Our power is in ourselves, in our nation and our people, in our
traditions, our culture, our economy.”
Other goals for the new Duma included boosting investment in Russian economy and increasing the country’s defense potential, Putin said. He also called for lawmakers to help reinforce international connections.
The president maintained that the State Duma's recently-elected 7th convocation was “undoubtedly
legitimate,” having been elected in a “transparent”
and “fair” race. He also called for more communication between
lawmakers and society at large, as well as political parties which didn’t win a seat within the parliament.
The president also thanked the previous Duma — notorious for the oppressive laws it passed — and expressed his hope that the new parliament would continue its work.
Elections for Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, saw a long-expected landslide victory for the ruling United Russia party on Sept. 18. Independent election monitors have declared that the State Duma vote was “far from free and fair.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
