🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks during a meeting of the United Russia General Council’s Commission on International Cooperation and Support for Compatriots Abroad

📍 Moscow, April 16, 2024

#Election2024

• The high interest in voting [during the 2024 Presidential election] was overwhelming, which was confirmed by high turnout as well as the large number of journalists, public figures and representatives from compatriot organisations who observed the elections.

• The electoral process took place amid the hybrid war against Russia unleashed by the collective West. <...> Nevertheless, the Russian Foreign Ministry and its foreign missions have coped with the task. Hundreds of thousands of Russians got the chance to exercise their constitutional right.

#BRICS

• The action plan [of Russia’s current BRICS chairmanship] envisages active work in three main areas, including politics and security, the economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian contacts. <...> The key priority now is to ensure the new members’ harmonious integration into the strategic partnership architecture and to preserve the effective operation of all existing BRICS mechanisms.

• In addition to working on the partner states category, the BRICS members are going to deepen dialogue with friendly countries in the BRICS Plus/BRICS Outreach format. They are planning to involve our associates in the EAEU, CIS, CSTO and the SCO by using this format.

• We are interested in enhancing the role of the BRICS states in the currency, financial and trade systems, developing interbank cooperation, expanding the use of their national currencies in mutual trade and pooling efforts in creating a rating agency and the association’s exchange.

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🗓 On April 19, 1783, Empress Catherine the Great signed a manifesto on the accession of Crimea, Taman Island and Kuban region into the Russian Empire.

Prince Grigory Potemkin, Governor-General of Novorossiya, played one of the key roles in the accession and development of Crimea. In June 1783, on top of Mount Aq Qaya, he personally received the oath of allegiance to Russia from the Crimean nobility and common people.

The results of the 2014 Crimean referendum once again confirmed the desire of Crimeans to remain part of our country and led to the long-awaited reunification of Crimea with Russia.

#CrimeaIsRussia

🎥 © Russian Military Historical Society / Commemorative Dates