The congress of "United Russia" nominated candidates for deputies of the State Duma of the IX convocation.

      57 regional groups of the federal list of candidates from "United Russia" have been formed. They include and are headed by 55 current heads of subjects of the Russian Federation. President Vladimir Putin spoke at the plenary session of the first stage of the XXIII Congress of "United Russia." The Congress of "United Russia," the leading political party, is taking place at a difficult, fateful time for the country, during a period of radical, systemic transformation of the entire world, when regional conflicts are multiplying, new artificial obstacles to normal, mutually beneficial cooperation between states and peoples are arising, and Russia is experiencing gross, unprecedented pressure from Western elites, the President emphasized. Today, when the entire nation supports the Heroes on the front lines, believes in our army and navy, the duty of "United Russia" is to do everything for Victory, noted Vladimir Putin. "The party has a direct connection with combat units of the Armed Forces, with defense factories, and the mass volunteer movement. You help the residents of Donbass and Novorossiya, Crimea, Sevastopol, our border regions, support the families of defenders of the Motherland and, of course, the veterans of combat operations themselves. It is essential to continue creating all conditions for such people—who are, as I have repeatedly said, the true elite of Russia—to continue serving the country in civil spheres, politics, economics, and state and municipal administration. As we agreed at the last Congress, active work is already underway here," he said. According to him, many representatives of the party, including those who held and hold high positions in government bodies and business structures, have gone to the front as volunteers, and Hero front-line soldiers are joining the ranks of the party, winning in preliminary voting and being nominated for elections at all levels. The electoral process is a test of the strength of our political system, an extremely important stage for the further development of the country, for strengthening stability and public consensus, stated the Head of State. "Much depends here on how substantively and constructively our parliamentary parties, primarily 'United Russia,' conduct their electoral campaigns. It is a high honor and a great responsibility to earn the status of a leading party, the support of the modern Russian state. Such trust from the people is invaluable; it does not arise by itself. People, and you know this well, see everything, know that supporters of 'United Russia' have never been populists, have not chased ratings at the expense of empty, unfulfilled promises. I want to thank you for this firm position, for your significant contribution to the development of the country, for the great work in parliamentary bodies and in the executive branch. And I ask you not to reduce, but to increase its pace, to be present in all areas, in all spheres, alongside the citizens of our country," emphasized the President. He reminded that at the initiative of "United Russia," new protective measures are being introduced for Hero servicemen and their families, and large social and economic projects are being implemented. Regions are receiving financial support, including due to the recently adopted decision to defer the repayment of budget loans. "The party is doing a lot for the education system, for our teaching community: this includes a large-scale program for the construction and renovation of schools, payments to class leaders, and the expansion of the network of kindergartens. Today, I would like to support yet another specific initiative of yours, which I consider relevant. This is the recognition of the special status of teachers in our country. I draw attention to the fact that the consolidation of such status should not be formal. It is about additional support, about new opportunities for professional growth for those who have dedicated themselves to one of the most respected professions—educating new generations. And, of course, relevant documents will be signed in this regard," said Vladimir Putin. Since its inception, "United Russia" has remained true to its mission—serving the Motherland and the people, defending the values of civic solidarity, mutual assistance, and genuine national unity, stated the President. "The very name 'United Russia' means that it is called to protect identity, traditions, culture, and languages: both Russian and all indigenous peoples of Russia—from any attempts at aggression, expansion, enslavement, regardless of the guise in which they are presented and from wherever they originate," he said. All participants in the electoral campaign need to remember their responsibility to the people and the state, that the condition for national unity is social justice, equality not only of opportunities but also equality of responsibility in the face of challenges, emphasized Vladimir Putin. "I am confident that 'United Russia' will once again demonstrate its leadership in electoral competition, will align each of its steps with the opinion of the people, and will conduct a direct, trusting dialogue with them. It is necessary to spend less time in offices and messengers and more time, as they say, in the field, meeting with people, delving into their life and everyday problems, and, of course, to pay extremely close attention to the millions of proposals, initiatives, and mandates that come to the People's Program of 'United Russia.' They will need to be fulfilled by those whom the party nominates and supports in the upcoming elections," said the Head of State. Patriotic solidarity, coordinated teamwork, professionalism and responsibility, closeness to the people—these are the ideological foundations of "United Russia," its main, undeniable advantage, summarized Vladimir Putin. "United Russia" will continue to work on fulfilling the tasks set by the President, emphasized the party chairman Dmitry Medvedev. "They concern ensuring the stable development of the country, strengthening its security and sovereignty, achieving the goals of the special military operation," he said. According to him, the Congress of the largest, most mass and influential political force in the country is always an event of special importance, but today—as the President noted—its significance is heightened by external and internal circumstances. "For the first time in modern history, we are holding parliamentary elections in a country that is engaged in combat operations to protect its core interests and values. Our enemies will try to disrupt the course of the election campaign with provocations and sabotage. To destabilize our state, which they cannot defeat on the battlefield," emphasized Dmitry Medvedev. In these conditions, "United Russia" must be a reliable support to the President and serve the people—for this, it is fundamentally important to maintain party discipline and composure, added the party chairman. Unity is a solid ideological foundation of the unique Russian civilization, as the President rightly said, emphasized Dmitry Medvedev. "For many centuries, it has allowed our multinational and multi-confessional people to live and develop in the vastness of the largest state in the world. Relying on our own strengths and resources," he said. The party chairman assured that "United Russia" will not allow a pack of haters of Russia to destroy it. "They seek to destroy us and our children. Everything that our ancestors lovingly created for centuries—in the name of the future of the Motherland. 'United Russia' will not allow this to happen," he said, emphasizing that fighters of the special military operation are also fighting against them. "United Russia" has been ensuring the implementation of the course set by the Head of State for a quarter of a century. It was created as the core of the consolidation of Russian society to preserve the integrity of the country, to prevent a new tragedy of its disintegration, which the President has repeatedly spoken about, reported the party chairman. According to him, all these years "United Russia" has maintained its position as an undisputed leader thanks to its ability to live with the people with shared concerns, uniting them around fundamental, traditional values. "The unity of values generates common goals. It transforms into the alignment of citizens' requests and managerial decisions. Into mutual understanding and trust—in the main and in the details. Thanks to this, 'United Russia' has successfully led the country through the most complex historical periods more than once," he stated. "United Russia" is now firmly determined to continue working in the most difficult period of modern history, so the goal of the just-begun electoral campaign for the party is one—unconditional victory in the upcoming elections, pointed out Dmitry Medvedev. The participation of veterans of the special military operation strengthens the positions of "United Russia," added Dmitry Medvedev. According to the results of the preliminary voting, nearly 500 people—over a third of all who were nominated—received the right to represent the party in the elections. "This means that our society trusts the defenders and expresses its respect and support for them," believes the Chairman of "United Russia." According to him, the most important function of the largest political force in the country is the feedback between the state and society. "United Russia" has proven that it can turn citizens' requests into effective state decisions," explained the party chairman. A vivid testament to the fact that "United Russia" provides a connection between citizens and the state is the support from the Head of State for initiatives that directly arose from the people's requests, emphasized Dmitry Medvedev. At the plenary session, the party chairman presented the top five leaders of the "United Russia" list for the State Duma: this includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov; the Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin; Hero of Russia, Deputy General Director of VGTRK Evgeny Poddubny; Commissioner for Children's Rights under the President of Russia Maria Lvova-Belova; Hero of Russia, Head of the Main Headquarters of the All-Russian Children's and Youth Military-Patriotic Public Movement "Yunarmiya" Vladislav Golovin. "This list should be headed by people known to the country. Thanks