Putin congratulates citizens on Day of Russia

President Vladimir Putin believes that the Day of Russia “becomes even more significant and large-scale from year to year.” “Its sense, spirit and mood are consonant with Russia’s modern development, it is a part of our history with all difficult and sometimes dramatic pages,” he said in his congratulation message on Wednesday. Putin noted that everybody remembered “how fast and sharp was a turn in the early 1990s - a turn to new life, how difficult it was to make it and what drastic economic and political changes we faced.” However, “will, strength and tolerance of Russian people helped to overcome hardships in those years and finally, to reach civil, social and national consent, to take a path towards sustainable development that is inseparable from such notions as democracy, respect to human rights and supremacy of law,” Putin said. “These values are of paramount importance for us. Moreover, this energy of solidarity of the society, freedom and responsibility of each citizen is the powerful resource for moving forward and the guarantee for the implementation of bravest and most large-scale projects,” he said. This holiday “is the symbol of common future of Russian people who had lived in peace and harmony for centuries, who sincerely and heartily love their Motherland, which is common for people of different nationalities and confessions,” Putin said.