Russia, Iran congratulate Syria’s Assad on election win
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Russia’s president and Iran’s foreign ministry offered their congratulations to Syria’s Bashar al-Assad on his re-election as president in a vote that Western governments called “neither free nor fair.”
Assad won the election with 95.1 percent of the vote, according to state media SANA.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a congratulatory telegram to his ally Assad, said the result confirmed “the trust your fellow citizens have for the policy pursued under your leadership towards stabilizing the situation in Syria as quickly as possible and strengthening its state institutions.”
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the “successful” vote “is an important step in establishing peace, stability, reconstruction, and prosperity in Syria.”
Assad, 55, has led Syria since his father’s death in 2000. This is the second election held during a decade of civil conflict that has killed more than 388,000 people and displaced half the population.
The day before the Wednesday vote, the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany and Italy released a joint statement claiming the election will “neither be free nor fair.” Polling took place only in areas of the country controlled by Damascus. The Kurdish-held northeast and rebel-held northwest did not participate.
Assad won the election with 95.1 percent of the vote, according to state media SANA.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a congratulatory telegram to his ally Assad, said the result confirmed “the trust your fellow citizens have for the policy pursued under your leadership towards stabilizing the situation in Syria as quickly as possible and strengthening its state institutions.”
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the “successful” vote “is an important step in establishing peace, stability, reconstruction, and prosperity in Syria.”
Assad, 55, has led Syria since his father’s death in 2000. This is the second election held during a decade of civil conflict that has killed more than 388,000 people and displaced half the population.
The day before the Wednesday vote, the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany and Italy released a joint statement claiming the election will “neither be free nor fair.” Polling took place only in areas of the country controlled by Damascus. The Kurdish-held northeast and rebel-held northwest did not participate.