Chairman of the State Duma: our people should determine the future of our county themselves
Vyacheslav Volodin held a meeting with the CSTO PA international observers. The presidential election is being held in Russia on March 15, 16 and 17
The Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin
Vyacheslav Victorovich
The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast)
held a meeting with the international
observers representing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO PA), that came to Moscow to observe the presidential
elections in the Russian Federation.
The Chairman of the State Duma noted that the Russian political system “is open and effective: legislation provides for representatives of political parties, as well as self-nominated people to participate in the elections, there are also being introduced new formats in the electoral process – in addition to the voting at the polling stations, there is an online electronic voting. In addition, every citizen of the Russian Federation can directly participate in elections and decide for whom to vote, as he added.
“Everything is known in comparison. In the United States of America, where it is considered that its standards of vision for the political process should be followed by everyone, 538 electors decide who will be the next president. If we take a look at the US legislation, the elections there are being held for 45 days, we have only three days for that,” said Vyacheslav Volodin.
According to the Chairman of the State Duma, the participation of international observers in the election of the President of the Russian Federation is an integral part of an election campaign of that level. “This is an opportunity for us to meet and create good basis for cooperation. We all proceed from the principles of respect, non-interference in the affairs of sovereign states, and the absence of double standards,” he addressed the CSTO PA delegation.
“As for observer missions from a number of international organizations that are totally controlled by the United States or Brussels, I would like to say: remembering the communication experience that we have already had,
we do not tolerate the imposition of any other standards. They try to force other countries to follow their vision of development to impose their political will. When a candidate loyal to them or their protege takes part in the elections, they undermine any standards, any national legislation, just to make him or her win, put such candidate in power and control the state with his/her help,” emphasized the Chairman of the State Duma.
Vyacheslav Volodin noted that such “pocket candidates” could lead their countries “to such situations like in Ukraine, Libya, Iraq and other countries, where there were created the problems by those who want to maintain their hegemony.”
“We will not let anyone impose anything here, we will not let anyone interfere in our sovereign affairs. Our citizens should determine their own future and plan the development of the country,” added the Chairman of the State Duma.
According to the Coordinator of the group of the CSTO PA observers, Chairman of the Mazhilis Committee of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Legislation and Judicial and Legal Reform Snezhanna Imasheva, members of the delegation noted that the preparation and conduction of elections in Russia were organized in full compliance with the Constitution, the electoral legislation of the Russian Federation and international standards.
“We started our work yesterday, we have already met with all the presidential candidates and representatives of their offices, we discussed with them about the observing process at other sites throughout the country, if they have any concerns. In general, we can say that a lot of work has been done, all candidates say that they have no concerns over the electoral system,” said Snezhanna Imasheva.
Vyacheslav Volodin expressed gratitude to the delegation representing the Assembly for its participation to observe the election of the President of the Russian Federation.
The CSTO PA
observer mission consists of representatives of parliaments of Kazakhstan,
Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The parliamentary delegation was invited to observe the election by the Chairman of the State Duma. The election of the President of the Russian Federation is being held on March 15–17.
