Russian President Calls for Boosting Economic Growth and Investment in Four New Regions

Moscow, September 30 (KUNA) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Wednesday for strengthening economic growth and investment in the four new Ukrainian regions that Moscow has declared annexed to Russia, affirming that the residents of these areas had “clearly” chosen to reunite with his country. This came in Putin’s address at the first session of the ninth convocation of the Russian State Duma, which began its work today in the presence of several senior officials and political and parliamentary figures, coinciding with Russia’s celebration of “Reunification Day” to commemorate the signing of the accession agreements for the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions on September 30, 2022. Putin added that the residents of these areas, which Moscow refers to as the “new regions,” participated in referendums on joining Russia “under extremely difficult conditions,” considering their choice “clear and precise” and asserting that the referendums were conducted in accordance with international law. He described the “day of reunification” of the new regions with Russia as a symbol of the “struggle for freedom,” while also praising what he termed the support of parliamentary parties for the residents of those areas. He affirmed the guarantee of steady and long-term economic growth in Russia and the launch of a major investment cycle in the country, stressing that the Russian financial and economic system is “moving with confidence and stability.” The Russian parliamentary elections were held from September 18 to 20 and resulted in the United Russia party retaining its majority in the State Duma, while the new parliament includes representatives of several political parties as well as independent deputies. (End) D.A.N./A.M.S.