Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the results of the work of the State Duma of the current convocation.
"I believe the truly historic outcome of work of your convocation is the legal integration of Crimea and Sevastopol that was preceded by your sincere, hearty and moral support for the citizens of the peninsula ahead of the referendum on joining the Russian Federation," TASS cited the president as saying.
"Your performance and its results can certainly be regarded as decent. It is of special importance that the laws you have adopted enabled us to comply with the social obligations to our citizens, develop crucial branches of the economy and perfect the political system of the state," Putin noted.
"The readiness for consolidation for the sake of the common cause, for the sake of Russia, is a distinguishing feature of this State Duma. And it is very important to ensure these traditions, including strict compliance with the rules of parliamentary ethics, should be inherited and continued by a future State Duma," Putin said.
"I expect that your will do everything possible so that elections are held fairly, openly and in the atmosphere of mutual respect. I want this to be not the struggle of mudslinging, but the struggle of ideas and fulfilling them should make our country stronger and increase the living standard of Russian citizens," he added.
In his address the president has also stressed that stability and trust are the key factors of country’s development. Putin has also set the importance of economic and social issues higher than security and foreign affairs.
"Everything is important - security, foreign affairs, but the economic and social sectors are the most important," Putin said, adding that the issue particularly covers medical care, education, housing and the utility sector as well as support of motherhood and childhood.
