Meeting on ensuring election security

Taking part in the meeting were Constitutional Court President Valery Zorkin Zorkin ValeryConstitutional Court President , President of the Supreme Court Igor Krasnov Krasnov IgorPresident of the Supreme Court , Prosecutor General Alexander Gutsan Gutsan AlexanderProsecutor General , Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino Vaino AntonChief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office , Minister of the Interior Vladimir Kolokoltsev Kolokoltsev VladimirInterior Minister of the Russian Federation , Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko Chuychenko KonstantinMinister of Justice of the Russian Federation , Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov Bortnikov AlexanderDirector of the Federal Security Service , Director of the Federal Guard Service Dmitry Kochnev Kochnev DmitryDirector of the Federal Guard Service , Head of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring Yury Chikhanchin Chikhanchin YuryHead of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring , and Chairman of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin Bastrykin AlexanderChairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia .

***

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good evening,

Today's agenda includes a range of issues related to strengthening the counterterrorism system and ensuring the overall security of citizens.

We consistently pay close attention to these matters. They have been discussed in detail at the annual board meetings of the Federal Security Service, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Prosecutor General's Office, as well as during briefing sessions of the Russian Federation Security Council.

The risks of terrorist threats are increasing. International terrorist organisations, as well as radical and extremist groups, continue their subversive activities. In addition, we know that both the Kiev authorities and their sponsors are resorting to openly terrorist methods. The reasons are clear and evident to everyone: the enemy is unable to stop the advance of our troops on the line of contact and continues to lose territory every day. Thus they place stakes on acts of terror against both military personnel and civilians. These tactics is not going to make any change but the threats remain and, as I have said, are growing.

Drone strikes against civilian infrastructure are also becoming more frequent. A recent example is the attack on energy facilities in Tuapse that could potentially cause grave environmental challenges. The governor has just reported - he is there on the ground or was there a couple of hours ago - adding that there don't seem to be major threats and the people are coping with the challenges they are facing.

Security and counterterrorism measures are particularly critical in light of the upcoming election campaign. In September, Russian citizens will elect deputies of the State Duma of the ninth convocation, and large-scale regional and local elections will be held.

Our priority is to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the electoral process: candidates, election commission members, observers, and the tens of millions of citizens who will cast their votes.

This is especially relevant for the Donetsk People's Republic, the Lugansk People's Republic, as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, where residents are expected to vote in federal elections for the first time. Those who deny Donbass and Novorossiya their historical right to be part of their homeland - of Russia - will, of course, attempt to hinder them, like they did before. Let me remind you that in Ukraine, elections are not held under the pretext of martial law, and now they are trying to hinder us, too. However, strong and determined people - strong-willed people, dare I say - live in these regions, and I am sure they will not be intimidated. This has happened more than once, and so it will be now. The state must do everything necessary to ensure the free expression of will for all citizens across the Russian Federation.

It is also important to create conditions for our military personnel and those involved in the special military operation to take part in voting.

I would also ask to lay special focus on organising elections in the border regions and districts located near state borders. All necessary measures must be taken in advance in view of the latest developments. Ensuring the safety of election commission members is of paramount importance.

To be continued.