World leaders congratulate Russian President Putin for landslide win
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Many leaders express how the high voter turnout proved "global stability" and "Russian sovereignty".
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Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking on a visit to his campaign headquarters after a presidential election in Moscow, Russia, early Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP)
Following the reelection win of Russian President Vladimir Putin, leaders rushed to congratulate him as the voting numbers showed a high turnout.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi congratulated Putin on his victory in the presidential election, the Iranian Embassy in Moscow said on Monday.
"The Iranian president has sent a message in which he sincerely congratulated Vladimir Putin on his decisive victory [in the presidential election] and reelection to the post of Russian president," the Embassy wrote on Telegram.
After extending congratulations, China expressed confidence that relations between Moscow and Beijing will continue to develop, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday.
"China extends its congratulations on this occasion," Lin told reporters, expressing confidence that "Russia-China relations will continue to develop under the strategic leadership of [Chinese] President Xi Jinping and President Putin."
KCNA relayed leader Kim Jong Un’s congratulations to Putin. Kim sent a congratulatory message to the Russian President due to be delivered to the Russian Foreign Ministry by the DPRK Ambassador in Moscow, Sin Hong Chol.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also congratulated Putin on his victory during a phone conversation, the Pul Pervogo Telegram channel reported on Monday.
Myanmar's Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing expressed his full support for Russia's foreign policy course and the President of the Russian Federation. The Prime Minister sees that Putin's victory speaks of the popular support of the Russians.
The leaders of six member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his victory in the presidential election, noting the broad support of Russian citizens, the Kremlin said on Monday.
"The leaders warmly congratulated Vladimir Putin on his convincing victory in the presidential election, especially noting the wide support among citizens for his course in domestic and foreign policy and the high turnout during the voting, and expressed wishes for further success in government activities," the Kremlin said in a statement.
Putin held phone conversations with the leaders, as well as discussed key issues related to the international agenda, the statement read.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro congratulated Putin as well, while acknowledging the "exceptional" turnout at the vote, as confirmed by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil.
Gil took to X to relay the message, saying, “The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro Moros, on behalf of the Venezuelan people, congratulates President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and his political movement on their overwhelming electoral victory in his re-election as President of the Russian Federation for the period 2024-2030, expressing recognition to the glorious Russian people for their deep commitment to democracy, expressed in their exceptional participation in this successful election day."
Envío mis felicitaciones al hermano pueblo de Rusia y al presidente Vladímir Putin por su extraordinaria victoria en las elecciones presidenciales de la Federación de Rusia. Ha sido un proceso electoral impecable que en estos últimos 3 días ha demostrado su participación… pic.twitter.com/w2Xe59xUwA
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) March 17, 2024
Read more: West fails to sabotage Russian elections: Russia's Deputy FM
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega also praised the voting results in Russia as a "contribution to global stability."
On his part, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla congratulated the President on X: “We congratulate Vladimir Putin on his re-election as President of Russia. We will continue to strengthen friendship and solidarity between our people and governments."
Felicitamos a Vladimir Putin por su reelección como Presidente de #Rusia.
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) March 17, 2024
Continuaremos fortaleciendo la amistad y solidaridad entre nuestros pueblos y gobiernos. pic.twitter.com/9qsavwbX8D
Moreover, Bolivian President Luis Arce posted on X to say that Putin’s victory is a sign of the unity of the Russian people regarding their sovereignty and constant development.
Desde el Estado Plurinacional de #Bolivia enviamos nuestras más sinceras felicitaciones al hermano Vladímir Putin, que fue reelecto como Presidente de #Rusia 🇷🇺 con una contundente victoria que reafirma la unidad del valeroso pueblo ruso en torno a su soberanía y constante… pic.twitter.com/zNwHO3fPeI
— Luis Alberto Arce Catacora (Lucho Arce) (@LuchoXBolivia) March 17, 2024
On her part, the leader of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, called Putin's victory convincing in a congratulatory message.
The Emir of Kuwait was the first among the leaders of the Persian Gulf countries to congratulate Putin on his victory in the presidential election, Kuwait State Agency reported.
The latest data from the Russian Central Election Commission showed that by 7:00 am Moscow time, Putin was leading the Russian presidential vote with 87.32%
The voting has spanned three days from March 15 until March 17. It marked the first Russian presidential election since the 2020 constitutional reform. The reform had imposed a limit of two terms for any president. This also nullified Putin's former terms, enabling him to run again.
Putin's victory can be attributed to several reasons, the first being what the Russians perceive as a defense of Russia's national security through the war in Ukraine. A second contributing factor is what can be described as Russia's economic resilience in the face of US sanctions.
