September 23, 2013. Yekaterinburg Municipal Duma deputies – United Russia members – suggested in the course of their first faction meeting that an open letter to the Russian Federation President should be prepared and presented at the Duma session. The letter should ask the President to support Yekaterinburg’s right to coordinate and host the World Cup 2018 football matches, the city council’s press service reports.

The initiative was put forth by Vladimir Kritsky, who was supported by his colleagues and the Soviet of the Federation Member from Sverdlovsk Region Eduard Rossel. The exact wording of the letter is expected to be discussed by the faction on the eve of the first session of the newly elected Duma.

This is meant as an open declaration on the Deputies’ part that even after the recent elections, the Duma still has the same views on hosting the international competitions.