MOSCOW, June 25. /TASS/.Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election, the Kremlin press service said on Monday.
"The head of the Russian state stressed that the outcome of the vote fully confirms Erdogan’s great political authority, broad support of the course pursued under his leadership towards solving vital social and economic tasks facing Turkey, and enhancing the country’s foreign policy positions," the statement said.
Putin also noted that Russian-Turkish partnership relations have been developing gradually, reaching a strategic level in a number of areas. "The Russian president confirmed readiness to continue substantive dialogue, close joint work on a bilateral, regional and international agenda, stressing that no doubt, this meets vital interests of the Russian and Turkish people, and is in line with maintaining peace, stability and security on the Eurasian continent," the Kremlin underlined.
According to preliminary results, Erdogan won Sunday’s early presidential election in Turkey with 52.5% of the vote, and his closest rival Muharrem Ince who represents Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party secured 30.7% of the vote.