Vladimir Putin Congratulates Serge Sargsyan

Mediamax reports that Russian president Vladimir Putin has congratulated the prime minister, Serge Sargsyan, on his victory in Tuesday’s presidential election in Armenia. The outgoing Russian president joins others such as Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour in congratulating Sargsyan.

“Russia highly appreciates the relations of trust, constructive dialogue and mutual support, which have established between our countries. The consistent deepening of ally partnership fully meets the fundamental interests of the Russian and Armenian peoples and assists the consolidation of stability in Transcaucasia.

I note with pleasure your great personal contribution to the development of Russian-Armenian relations. I am confident that your activity as the Armenian President will assist their further progress”.

Noticeable by their absence from the list, however, are the United Kingdom and United States who sometimes register their displeasure with the conduct of elections by waiting to congratulate Armenian presidents on their inauguration instead. Such an approach was taken after the disputed 2003 presidential election and it will be interesting to see if the same happens this time as well.