United Russia Party Congress • President of Russia
The first stage of the congress was held on June 28.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I would like to greet you and all Russian citizens on the holiday – National Flag Day.
Our flag,
along with the national emblem and anthem, is our major national symbol. It
embodies our continuous great history, our pride in our Fatherland and our
responsibility for it, common victories and inspiring achievements, and the cohesion of Russia’s multiethnic people.
Our troops
carry our flag as they launch an assault, they raise it over liberated towns
and villages, high ground and positions they seize.
Our might and firm faith in the future lies in the unity of the frontline and home front and the robustness of the values passed on to us by our ancestors.
We are one people, and we will jointly fight for our flag, for our Motherland,
and defend its interests.
I believe
that the upcoming elections will reaffirm the sustainability of the state, the maturity of our political system, its ability to counter any external threats, blackmail
and aggression. The elections will be an expression of the will of millions of people and their desire
to ensure Russia’s sovereignty and security.
The source
of power is the people.
The constitutional right of the citizens to elect their representatives and determine that course of their country’s progress is inviolable. It is the baseline for legitimacy and legal capacity of the state’s
democratic institutions.
This is why
we will not step back from the principles of people’s rule even under harshest conditions,
and we hold and will keep holding election at different levels across the entire territory of our vast country, from the Far East to Novorossiya and Donbas. The troops on the frontline are also taking part in the elections.
This choice and trust from the people who are fighting and working today for Russia must definitely be cherished. And this entails a higher responsibility on the deputies to be elected to the State Duma in September. The Duma, as well as all other
governance agencies, must be prepared to steadfastly protect the interests of the nation, serve the people and work for them.
To be continued.