Medvedev: All regions should ultimately switch to direct elections

(Interfax – PYATIGORSK, August 19, 2013, 2013) All Russian regions should ultimately switch to direct elections, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

A young man asked Medvedev at the Mashuk-2013 North Caucasus youth forum on Monday whether regional elections should be direct like national elections, or if regional leaders should be appointed depending on the a region’s specific situation.

“Elections should be held everywhere, I think. Although, if political culture in individual regions is different, we could introduce a transitional period. It has actually been introduced by law, and direct elections can be replaced by some other procedure. But I think it is an absolutely temporary situation, whose application must be absolutely limited,” the prime minister said.