The Russian ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Rodakov, urged the parliamentary council to elect a president for the republic as soon as possible, emphasizing that "we do not interfere in Lebanese affairs, but the Lebanese people and MPs must choose their president, and a government must be formed to address all economic issues so that the Lebanese people can enjoy a better life." Rodakov's comments came during a tour in Rashaya, accompanied by his wife and a delegation from the Russian embassy, at the invitation of Vice President of the Russian Universities Alumni Samer Harb and the "Russia Alumni Club" in the region.
The first stop was at the Independence Castle, where Rodakov toured its sections, learned about its landmarks and heritage, and examined its rich photographic archive featuring significant historical moments. He inspected its rooms, particularly those where independence leaders were detained. He then moved to the weapons museum before proceeding to Rashaya's heritage market, with its cobblestone streets and tiled houses. He visited the Church of Our Lady in Rashaya and then went to the old Russian school, established over 125 years ago, where he observed what remained of its stones and large stone walls. Finally, he climbed to the lighthouse hill in Rashaya, facing Mount Sheikh and the peaks of Hermon, and visited the Rashaya government hospital, where he was welcomed by the chairman of the hospital's board, Hassan Khuwayr, and the director, Yasser Ammar, along with doctors and staff.
Rodakov concluded his extensive visit in Rashaya with a ceremonial lunch hosted by Harb in his house in Dahr al-Ahmar, attended by members of the "Democratic Gathering," MPs Wael Abu Faour and Bilal Abdullah, and the representative of the "Progressive Socialist Party" in Moscow, Halim Abu Fakhr al-Din. From the Independence Castle in Rashaya, Rodakov noted that "everyone in this world, especially Russia and its people, supports the swift election of a president and the resolution of the economic and political crisis facing the Lebanese people." He affirmed, "We do not interfere in Lebanese affairs, but the Lebanese people and MPs must choose their president, a government must be formed, and all economic issues should be addressed for the Lebanese people to enjoy a better life." He emphasized that "Russia is always with the Lebanese people and continues to provide educational scholarships for its children in Russia, which will persist."
