There were discussed issues of organizing the forthcoming September 19 elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
The head of state, welcoming Gurulev, noted that he was well acquainted with his activities and thanked him for his service for the benefit of the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
“The events of 2008 are of great importance for Abkhazia. You were one of those who turned the course of these events in the right direction. Of course, the process of elections to the State Duma is very important. We are monitoring it and, as far as we can, will take part in it. A lot depends on the composition of the State Duma. We will do our best to ensure that the elections in the republic are held at a high organizational level, ” President said.
The head of state expressed his conviction that United Russia will remain the leading party in the State Duma.
Andrey Gurulev thanked Aslan Bzhania for the meeting. “Abkhazia is not a foreign country for me, I worked in the 7th Russian military base in different years. I have only the best impressions about this republic and its people, ” he said.
Gurulev stressed that the future State Duma deputy should work directly with voters, without intermediaries. “First of all, for the benefit of improving the life of the residents of the republic,” he said.
President Aslan Bzhania voiced a number of problems existing on the Abkhaz-Russian state border.
“80% of the adult population has the citizenship of the Russian Federation. This is quite enough to change the mode of operation at the state border. What is happening there makes our citizens experience great difficulties, especially during the summer holiday season. This state of affairs is not good for our relations, ” the Head of State said, noting that these and other issues would be raised by voters before a State Duma deputy.
Other topical issues of Abkhaz-Russian cooperation were also discussed at the meeting, the RA President's press service reported.
On September 19, Abkhazia will vote on the elections of deputies to the State Duma of the Russian Federation. There are nine polling stations in the republic, one of which belongs to the Daursky constituency No. 44 of the Trans-Baikal Territory.