About 50 Russian military veterans who fought in the battles in Ukraine and current fighters participated today (Wednesday) in a session of the Russian House of Representatives (Duma), of which they now constitute nearly a tenth of its members, while the invasion continues for a fifth year.
Since Russia began its attack on Ukraine in 2022, its economy and society have witnessed widespread militarization. The current Duma has become the largest house of representatives in Russia's modern history with seats occupied by the army, noting that some of the new representatives are wanted in Kiev on charges of committing war crimes.
In a speech delivered by President Vladimir Putin during the first session of the Duma, he believed that this group within the council emerging from elections held under tight supervision includes “people who have proven their unconditional loyalty to the homeland on the battlefield.”
He added: “I am confident that, by adhering to the traditions of the front’s brotherhood, they will work to strengthen” the Russian Parliament.
The Russian Electoral Commission reported last week that 46 participants in the attack on Ukraine and its Russian veterans had been elected as deputies. Most of these veterans represent Putin's United Russia party.
These had different roles in the war, including officer Nursultan Musagaliev, whom Ukraine accuses of participating in atrocities committed in the Bucha suburb near Kiev in 2022.
The Kremlin, which denies Ukraine's accusations, awarded the 29-year-old officer the "Hero of Russia" medal, and he participated in meetings with Putin.
Among the new deputies also is the commander of the Russian “Youth Army,” Vyacheslav Golovin, who fought in Ukrainian Mariupol, and former naval vice admiral Vladimir Kasatonov.
Representative-elect Andrei Kozlov, who belongs to the war veterans, said in a statement to Russian media in response to a question about what this group will add to the Duma: “The most important thing is faith in our Supreme Leader (Putin).”
He added: “We are with him and we will remain so until the end, until victory is achieved.”
Vyacheslav Volodin, a Kremlin loyalist, was re-elected to the position of Speaker of the Duma, which he has held since 2016.
He said in the session, “The West (...) is doing everything in its power to obstruct the development of our country (...) and we cannot lose the country as happened in 1917 (the Russian Revolution) and 1991 (the fall of the Soviet Union).”
A source at the French Interior Ministry revealed today (Wednesday) that France and Britain are holding talks to end an agreement between them on immigration based on the principle of “one in and one out,” according to Reuters.
The source said: “We are discussing the terms of withdrawal from the agreement with the British side.”
The agreement was announced last year in an attempt to limit small boats crossing the English Channel, which separates the two countries.
Under the agreement, Britain deports illegal immigrants who arrive on small boats to France, and in return accepts a similar number of legitimate asylum seekers with family ties to Britons.
The French Ministry of the Interior did not comment on the reasons why France sought to terminate the agreement. The British Home Office has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Under the terms of the agreement, there is a target time frame of no more than three months from a person's arrival in Britain until their transfer to France.
The agreement obligated Britain to return any expatriate within 14 days of his arrival, and did not force France to accept hosting unaccompanied minors, or individuals who pose an existing security threat.
