Vyacheslav Volodin: Challenges and Sanctions Have Brought Russia and Belarus even Closer

The 67th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia was held in Moscow under the leadership of Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.

Vyacheslav Volodin noted that challenges and sanctions have brought Russia and Belarus even closer.

“Our relations are propelled by our presidents - Vladimir Putin and Aleksandr Lukashenko. It is their friendship, mutual understanding and contacts that create a good and solid basis, a foundation for our work,” Vyacheslav Volodin emphasized.

He pointed out that it had been 25 years since the treaty “On the Establishment of the Union State” was signed.

“When it comes to the parliamentary dimension, we, on our part, should do our best to contribute to the development of relations: find new forms of cooperation, develop solutions that people expect from us and do everything in the power of the Parliament of the Union State of Belarus and Russia to implement the tasks set by the presidents,” concluded Mr. Volodin.

Igor Sergeyenko, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus and first deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, focused attention on ensuring electoral sovereignty as one of activity areas.

“Our most important activity area is to ensure electoral sovereignty, objective and unbiased monitoring of elections. It is the electoral process that is used by the opponents of integration in the post-Soviet space for groundless accusations, various fakes and interference in internal affairs,” said Igor Sergeyenko.

The main priority of the CSTO PA is the rapprochement and harmonization of national legislations of all CSTO Member States, including the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia is an observer in the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.