Iran, China, Venezuela and North Korea congratulate Putin on his re-election, while the West criticizes him

Countries such as Iran, China, Venezuela and North Korea congratulated the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, for his victory in this weekend’s elections, where he received 87.32 percent of the votes. On the other hand, Western countries and especially the European Union described the electoral event as illegal and undemocratic.

TO LOOK: Putin wins the elections in Russia with 87% of the votes and will rule until 2030

Support for put on comes from the countries that supply it with weapons in its war against Ukraine or do not condemn the invasion, some of them Latin Americans, among them Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba.

Among those who support it, China stands out

China: In his congratulatory message, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, attaches “great importance” to the development of its relations with Moscow. “In recent years, the Russian people have come together, overcome challenges and made progress towards their national development and revitalization.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands after talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. (Photo by Vladimir ASTAPKOVICH/SPUTNIK/AFP). (VLADIMIR ASTAPKOVICH/)

Will:The President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisicongratulated put on for your “resounding victory” expressed “his satisfaction” with the growing expansion of relations between the two countries and defended further development of these ties.

North Korea: The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Unsent a laconic message of congratulations to put on via the North Korean state agency KCNA: “on Monday he congratulated Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for his re-election to the presidency of the Russian Federation.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during a meeting at the Vostochny cosmodrome, in the Amur region, on September 13, 2023. (Photo by Vladimir SMIRNOV / AFP). (VLADIMIR SMIRNOV/)

Several former Soviet republics also congratulated Putin. The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenkoquoted by the Belarusian state agency BELTA, said that “it is an impressive result”. President of Kazakhstan Kasim-Yomart Tokayevhighlighted the “support of the Russian people for Putin’s strategic direction.” The President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rakhmon, I wish you “great successes” for the “well-being of the brotherly Russian people”.

Latin Americans:

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro congratulated Putin “on his overwhelming victory” and “extended its recognition to the glorious Russian people for their deep commitment to democracy.” “The Russian people and government, with audacity and wisdom, managed to overcome the multidimensional attacks they suffered. Russia in recent times and will continue to do so with the determination and drive that has characterized them throughout their memorable history”, says the writing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence on the outskirts of Moscow on December 5, 2018. (MAXIM SHEMETOV/AFP).

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said that Putin’s victory “constitutes a reliable example of the Russian people’s recognition of his administration.” and hoped that ties between Cuba and Russia would continue to be “strengthened, in sectors identified for the well-being of our people”. Russia sent its first shipment of crude oil to Cuba in a year to alleviate the energy crisis.

Bolivian President Luis Arce said the reelection “reaffirms the unity of the courageous Russian people around their sovereignty and constant development.”

The West calls the elections undemocratic

Since European Unionthe EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, stated that the EU “does not recognize and will never recognize either the holding of so-called ‘elections’ in the territories of Ukraine or their results. They are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect.”

But in addition, it said that “Russian authorities continued to increase systematic domestic repression, taking action against opposition politicians, civil society organizations, independent media outlets and other critical voices through the use of repressive legislation and prison sentences for political reasons.”

The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, stated that “an electoral process took place in Russia that was very far, to put it diplomatically, from what we consider in the European Union. is at Spain democratic elections with the necessary guarantees” and which do not confer “any legitimacy nor can any rights be derived” from the votes organized by Russia “in militarily occupied Ukrainian territories”.

In Polanda note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that “they cannot be considered legal, free or fair”, among other things because “they were detained in the occupied Ukrainian territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and in the city of Sevastopol, as well as in the territories of the provinces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

France says that “once again” in Russia “the conditions for free, pluralistic and democratic elections were not met” because “international standards were not respected in terms of equal access of candidates to the media during the campaign”.

The Italian Antonio Tajani He recalled that “they were neither free nor fair and also involved illegally occupied Ukrainian territories.”

The British minister David Cameron, highlights that “they strongly highlight the depth of the repression that exists under the regime of President (Vladímir) Putin, who seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war”. “Putin eliminates his political opponents, controls the media and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy.”

Source: Elcomercio