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Citizens of Russia, friends,

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Today the Central Election Commission announced the final results 

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of the Russian presidential election.

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Over 67 percent of voters, which is over 73 million 

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citizens, took part in the voting.

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Over 56 million of them, which is over 76 percent,

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voted for the current Head of State.

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It sets a record in the history of our country.

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On March 18, right after the preliminary results were announced,

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I addressed a rally on Manezhnaya Square and spoke 

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at my election campaign headquarters.

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I thanked my supporters, everyone who voted,

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it was both necessary and timely that night.

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However, given the large-scale and unprecedented support you gave me,

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I believe that the words of gratitude I said in the centre 

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of Moscow are not enough.

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I feel the need to address you directly,

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all those who supported me across Russia, all citizens of Russia.

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I believe that such spectacular civic engagement and your commitment 

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as well as consolidation are crucially important.

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Especially today, when we are facing complex domestic 

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and foreign challenges.

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I know only too well about your problems.

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You, Russian citizens, are right to speak about low incomes,

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faults with the healthcare system, housing,

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utilities and other things as well.

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The trust you put in me signifies for me primarily your 

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hope for a change for the better.

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I expect that your praise is related to the work that has been done 

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and those positive results that we have achieved over the past years.

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But it is not enough, of course. We need to make a real breakthrough.

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Your active participation in the election and your support show that we 

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are ready to carry out such work,

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as well as to strive towards achieving such change.

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I am well aware of my enormous responsibility before the citizens 

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of Russia, before this entire country.

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Everything I spoke about in the course of the election 

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campaign must be done.

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Of course, I would like the matters that citizens raised to be 

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addressed as soon as possible –

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we will strive to do this.

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But promising to solve all these things immediately, right away,

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to make the necessary changes simply overnight,

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would be an absolutely irresponsible thing to do.

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This would be nothing but a grand gesture,

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like showing off something designed only to have 

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an immediate, short-term effect.

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What we really need is consistent, profound change,

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planned steps that will result in a stable positive outcome not only 

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today but in the future as well.

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We will be creating new jobs and increasing the effectiveness of our 

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economy, increasing the real income of our citizens, reducing poverty,

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developing infrastructure and the social sphere –

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education and healthcare, addressing environmental and housing 

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problems, and we will continue to renovate and revamp small 

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cities and villages. All of this should be based on a powerful 

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technological breakthrough, which is yet to be made.

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I spoke about all these matters in the Address to the Federal Assembly.

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It is, essentially, a clear, concrete,

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detailed plan of our common action.

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I am sure that it is realistic, right and valid.

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At the same time, I would like to emphasise that all the forthcoming 

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decisions, even the most difficult ones,

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will be motivated by one thing only,

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the need to eliminate the backlogs that still exist in various spheres,

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to ensure the country’s dynamic development and a brand new quality 

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of life for the people, as well as to address 

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the historical challenges that we face today.

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And the most important thing – in the end,

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all these decisions will be taken exclusively for the benefit of our 

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country, our citizens, our children and future generations.

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We will act openly and discuss all our major decisions with the public,

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we will also explain why we are acting in this or that way and we will 

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explain which goals we want to achieve.

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Let me stress that our development agenda is meant to be consolidating 

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and to unite the entire nation.

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I would like to address all public and political forces in the country.

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I understand that the logic of political competition is in criticising 

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those in power, from the left, from the right, always.

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Yes, criticism, debates and discussions are necessary and important but 

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they must be free from irresponsible populism.

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The national interests and the wellbeing of the people must be the main 

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guideline for everybody, especially today.

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It is the ground for our consolidation and collaborative work.

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I want to address those citizens who voted for other candidates.

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I respect your choice and opinion.

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Political preferences must not divide us.

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We are all patriots of our country and we have one common concern,

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that of Russia’s future and prosperity.

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Our unity, responsibility, common understanding of goals 

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and aspirations of millions of people must be turned into Russia’s 

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development and powerful progress.

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Thank you all once again for your support and trust.

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I am certain that together we will succeed.