Iran And China Congratulations On Vladimir Putin's Victory In The Russian Election

Vladimir Putin's illustration when voting in the election. (Wikimedia Commons/The Presidential Press and Information Office)

JAKARTA - Chinese and Iranian leaders congratulate Vladimir Putin's victory in the Russian elections, as the incumbent is expected to break the record for the highest votes in elections in the country.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi among the first to congratulate Vladimir Putin for his victory in the election of the Russian President, state media reported.

"The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran in his message sincerely congratulated Vladimir Putin for his decisive victory and re-elected as President of the Russian Federation," the state news agency IRNA reported, quoted from The Times of Israel March 19.

In Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping also congratulated Kremlin Leaders colleagues, saying Putin's re-election "fully reflects the support of the Russian people," Beijing's state media reported.

"The re-elected you are a full demonstration of the Russian people's support for you. I believe under your leadership, Russia will definitely be able to achieve greater achievements in national development and construction," Xi said, according to Xinhua News.

Beijing has strengthened its relations with Moscow over the past year, although Western criticism has escalated over the war in Ukraine.

"China is very concerned with the development of China-Russia relations and is ready to maintain close communication with Russia, in order to encourage the development of a comprehensive Chinese-Russian strategic partnership that is sustainable, healthy, stable and deep," Xi said, according to the report.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, adding that the two heads of state will continue to maintain close communication.

As previously reported, incumbent Vladimir Putin won a landslide victory in the Presidential Election in Russia on Sunday, setting a record for highest votes and being the longest-serving leader in the country in two centuries.

Putin won 87.8 percent of the vote, which is the highest result in the post-Soviet Russian history, according to a poll conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM). The Russian Center for Public Opinion Research (VCIOM) put Putin at 87 percent. The first official results show that the poll was accurate.

communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov took second place with a vote below 4 percent, followed by newcomer Vladislav Davankov in third and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky in fourth place.

The former lieutenant KGB colonel first rose to power in 1999. This result will perpetuate Putin to pass Josef Stalin and become Russia's longest-serving leader for more than 200 years if he completes his term of office.