Meeting with newly elected heads of regions

Direct elections of heads of regions
were held in 21 regions. In three regions, the heads of regions were elected by legislative bodies.
* * *
Vladimir Putin:
Good afternoon, colleagues.
I would like to begin by congratulating
you on being elected as heads of the constituent entities of the Russian
Federation. The level of support you received both during direct voting and in regional legislative assemblies shows the high level of trust the voters have placed
in you. It shows that people in the regions see the results of your work and associate with you their hopes for even more positive changes to come.
Importantly, both the incumbent
leaders and those who took office not long ago and served as acting heads in the run-up to the elections have won by a landslide.
The elections were open and competitive. Particularly notable is the fact that we saw the highest turnout ever
in the history of the single voting day.
Our people understand the importance
of participating in the life of the country and in the formation of government
bodies of different levels. The modern-day organisation of elections and the use of digital technologies have made voting a user-friendly process.
I would like to specifically thank
voters who live in the border regions. Despite the difficulties, pressure, and the attempts to destabilise the situation, as well as the terrorist attacks in these territories, people came to the voting stations in a show of unity and consolidation. Your courage and strength invoke respect. Once again, thank you
for your position.
Here is what I would like to emphasise
in this regard. People living in the border regions have been confronted with major
challenges. The federal, regional, and local authorities must be particularly
mindful of their needs and requests. All issues must be solved swiftly and without undue red tape as soon as they emerge.
Of course, as I said earlier, protecting
the people is the sacred duty of the Armed Forces.
Once again, colleagues, the wide participation of our citizens in the elections shows they are aware of their own responsibility
for the future of the country, especially now, at this point of inflection
which will determine the future of our country.
The society’s demands to the authorities, including regional ones, are justly growing, too. People expect
you to work selflessly in the interests of the country and its citizens, be
ready for an open, honest, and constant dialogue with people, unconditionally
fulfill all your responsibilities and undertake actions tailored for the socioeconomic development of regions and improvement of the quality of life.
Today, new national projects – the main mechanisms used to achieve large strategic goals we have set – are being
shaped. Their success will largely depend on how the work in the regions is
organised.
The invested resources must be as useful for people as much as possible. Of course, I expect that you will
personally control all issues related to the implementation of the national
projects and act in close coordination with the Government and federal
authorities.
Let me stress that this means
comprehensive development, when economic growth tasks are being addressed
together with creating favourable and up-to-date conditions for the life of people and families with children. I mean education, healthcare, and upgrades
of social, transport, and housing infrastructure; a comfortable environment in cities and villages, and, of course, broad possibilities for personal fulfilment
of people living there.
It is important to support
successful entrepreneurial initiatives where necessary, including high-tech
ones, help scale them up, exchange best practices with other regions, create
opportunities for opening new production facilities and upgrading existing
ones, and overall tapping the scientific and technological potential of the regions thereby promoting their human resources, too.
As I have already said, our economy
is tasked with becoming an economy of qualified personnel and high wages and getting necessary advanced solutions to strengthen our sovereignty.
Of course, each region’s contribution
to the common cause, the common victory, the support of our heroes, who don’t
spare themselves as they fight for Russia during the special military
operation, is of huge importance.
These are issues related to the provision of the military-industrial complex, and, let me stress this,
comprehensive assistance to our military personnel, veterans of military
operations, and their family members. This is our common and your personal
responsibility as regional leaders, and our civic and moral duty.
You are very well aware at what time
in history we are living and what tasks the country is now facing. In order to resolve them and achieve our goals, we must work with absolute dedication, in a coordinated and united manner, to protect the interests of people and the interests of the country each in our own place, and justify people’s trust with
specific results.
I wish you and your management teams
fruitful work.
Colleagues, once again
congratulations on the results of the elections. If you need to discuss
anything with me, you are welcome. If there are no urgent matters, we will meet
routinely and discuss all the problems that are of concern to you. However, let
me repeat that you can use today’s occasion to discuss anything if you need.
Please.
<…>
Vladimir
Putin: <…>
Once again, colleagues, congratulations on being
elected. I wish you success.
I would like to repeat what I said in my welcoming remarks. You understand what responsibility for people lies on your
shoulders. I hope that your work will be effective, that you will approach it
with all your heart and soul, understanding that the lives and quality of life
of millions of our fellow citizens depend on your actions, on your work, on its
quality. They elected you so that you could work effectively for the interests
of our common great homeland and those regions, and for the sake of the people
living in the regions where you have been given the great honour of working as heads of regions of the Russian Federation.
I wish you
all the best.
Thank you.