Russia’s Putin congratulates Armenian president on reelection
19.02.2013,
18:50
Russia’s president Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation Tuesday with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan after the announcement of preliminary official results of the February 18 presidential election, Sargsyan’s press service said.
YEREVAN, February 19. / ARKA /. Russia’s president Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation Tuesday with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan after the announcement of preliminary official results of the February 18 presidential election, Sargsyan’s press service said.
It said during the conversation, Putin congratulated Sargsyan on a convincing victory and wished him success and also peace, stability and prosperity to Armenia and the friendly Armenian people.
"The Russian president expressed confidence that the Armenian-Russian strategic allied partnership,the deepening bilateral relations, which are getting stronger with every passing year, will continue to develop in the same manner for the benefit of both countries and peoples," Putin was reported to say.
According to the preliminary data, the incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan scored 861,378 votes, or 58.64% of the ballot, Raffi Hovannisian - 539,674 votes, or 36.74%, Hrant Bagratyan - 316 43 votes or 2.15%, Paruyr Hayrikian - 18,093 votes, or 1.23%, Andrias Ghukasyan - 8,328 votes or 0.57%, Arman Melikyan – 3,520 votes or 0.24% and Vardan Setrakian - 6,203 votes or 0.42%.
Observers from the CIS and Europe described the polls democratic and legitimate, pointing out some violations, which, however, did not affect the election results. -0-
