Russian President: Parliamentary elections will be held on their scheduled dates

Moscow, 16 Sep (KUNA) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the upcoming parliamentary elections in his country will be held in "strict compliance with the law and on the scheduled dates," urging citizens to participate and make "responsible" decisions.

In a pre-election address, as reported in a statement issued by the Kremlin, Putin described the State Duma election campaign as a "pivotal and decisive" event in several respects, noting that the elections are being held on a large scale amid what he termed the "special military operation."

He expressed confidence that soldiers and officers carrying out combat missions would actively participate in the upcoming elections, adding that the choice of the Russian people would confirm that millions of citizens support the fighters and that the nation is "united, sharing common values, and cannot be divided or intimidated."

In the same context, Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, as saying that "absolute legitimacy" must be ensured for the upcoming parliamentary elections, adding that Russia is holding elections despite the ongoing military operations.

These developments come amid preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place from September 18 to 20, which will see the participation of various political forces and candidates.

(END) D.A.N / A.S.