Foreign Minister Støre comments on Russian elections

President Putin’s United Russia party appears to have won over 63 per cent of the vote in the Russian Duma elections held on 2 December. This is enough to secure United Russia two-thirds of the seats in the Duma, and thereby a constitutional majority. Objections have been raised in various quarters about the way the election was carried out. 

“I note that the opposition and international observers like the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have made a number of critical remarks in relation to the way the election was carried out. I expect Russia to take these views seriously, and to provide thorough responses to the OSCE’s critical remarks on the election,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre.

“Nevertheless, the election result reflects broad support for President Putin and his Government’s policies. I expect that the declaration of confidence that President Putin and United Russia have now been given will provide a basis for stability and constructive relations with other countries,” said Mr Støre. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Støre was in Moscow as recently as 21 November, when he met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“Norway is looking forward  to continued close and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia in the years ahead,” said Mr Støre.