10 Sep 2013 15:42

Putin welcomes Caucasus regional leaders elections by parliaments

NOVO-OGARYOVO. Sept 10 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin said electing regional leaders through local legislatures was the right decision, which is well justified in the Caucasus.

"In some regions we agree with deputies of local legislatures who said regional leaders should be elected by parliaments. This is due to the specific features of the ethnic structure, rather than security considerations or other related things. And this primarily reflects traditions of the local ethnic culture, including a variety of faiths and ethnic groups, and a special ethnic composition of these regions," Putin told regional leaders.

He also said that this has to do with the Caucasus in the first place, including Ingushetia and Dagestan.