Text version
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these
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Elections are not something in which we can
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choose to participate, or not
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participate. These are elections in which we are obliged
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to take part in order
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to crush, re-elect, replace this
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regime, because in 2002 or 2003 we
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could argue: well, here Putin will do
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something well, and we would have done it differently,
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a little better. In 2007 we said
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that maybe here he might do something
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well, but most likely everything is bad overall
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and we don't like it, and we become
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the opposition. Now, in 2017, I believe
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that we can boldly state that everything
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they do is bad, starting with their
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economic projects and ending with what
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they do in politics, in the economy, in
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foreign policy. Everywhere, they do everything
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badly. They harm our country in everything, and
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they have built a regime that
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is truly hostile to the citizens
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of Russia. On our television, they are constantly
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talking about the enemies of Russia, but in fact
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of course, that main enemy exists — he sits
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in the Kremlin, and in these elections, no matter whether with
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me or someone else, you need
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to participate in order to strike
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a blow against this enemy, and I hope that together with
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you we will go to these elections. Second,
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the attitude of saying, in essence, that anyway
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it's impossible to win, anyway it's all
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useless — these are the most harmful thoughts
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that we can possibly have. Our situation
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is not unique. I was on my way here, looking at the news on
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Twitter — there are elections in Turkmenistan
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today; by 2 p.m.
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their turnout had already reached 70%; by 2 p.m. it was
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74. There is nothing unique here. In
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Turkmenistan,
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Uzbekistan,
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Kazakhstan, and all the other republics
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of the Soviet Union except the Baltic states,
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and now Ukraine — either we believe that these are
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unique situations with unique
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popular leaders who enjoy
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enormous support,
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or else
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these groups are not relying on
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popular support. But you and I
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do not rule out that somehow these
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former Soviet
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regional party committee-style
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systems — that these regimes, without relying on
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genuine popular support,
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will fall. But only if we work properly
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I am absolutely certain that
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this regime will fall, because it is not needed,
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because it is harmful, and the only thing that
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extends the life of this regime is when we
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do not work as well as we should
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when we do not believe in our own strength.
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My friends, I thank you for the support
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you gave me yesterday. I promise that I
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will not let you down, that I will try to work
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in a way that makes me worthy of that support.
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I hope that in this election
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campaign, as I say everywhere, I will be
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your voice, and I will represent your
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interests. And I also hope that you too
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will support me. So, together we will
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soon see the fall
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of this regime, the fall of those enemies of Russia
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who have now seized power in our
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country. Russia, be free! Thank you very
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much. I am ready to answer
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[applause]
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questions. Okay, yes.