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Matviyenko: Russia wants Belarus’ next president to continue policy of development of EEU

"It is important for Russia that the elections are won by an adequate candidate who will be able to further develop Russian-Belarusian relations", she said

Valentina Matviyenko Alexander Shalgina/press-service of the Russian Federation Gosudmy/TASS

Valentina Matviyenko

© Alexander Shalgina/press-service of the Russian Federation Gosudmy/TASS

MINSK, September 20. /TASS/. Russia wants Belarus’ next president to be elected on October 11 to continue the course towards the development of the Union State of Russian and Belarus and the Eurasian Economic Union, speaker of the Federation Council, or upper house of the Russian parliament, Valentina Matviyenko, said on Sunday.

"It is important for Russia that the elections are won by an adequate candidate. A candidate who will be able to further develop Russian-Belarusian relations, who will continue to build the Union State and the Eurasian Economic Union", she said in an interview with Belarus-1 television channel.

"The Belarusian people will elect their president," she said. "But the results of the elections do matter for us. We would like the elected president of Belarus to continue the policy in the interests, first of all, of Belarus’ citizens and, of course, of all of us."

Presidential elections in Belarus will be held on October 11. Candidates for president are incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Sergei Gaidukevich, leader of the Belarusian Patriotic Party Nikolai Ulakhovich, and activist of the Tell the Truth campaign Tatiana Korotkevich, the only female candidate.

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