VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 3 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said it would be a pity to let Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov become State Duma deputies, but the choice is up to them.
"It's a pity. They [Shoigu and Lavrov] are working well in their current capacities," Putin said at a plenary meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum on Friday, in response to a question whether it would be a pity to let Shoigu and Lavrov, who are in the top five of United Russia's ticket in the State Duma elections, become Duma deputies.
"The decision should be made by them, first and foremost, it's them who should make this decision [whether to become Duma deputies or not]," Putin said.
He said colleagues asked him to allow Shoigu and Lavrov to head the United Russia ticket "to demonstrate that everything the United Russia party does become a reality, in particular, through the efforts of these two people."