Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Serdar Berdymukhamedov, son of current Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, on his election as president of the country by telephone on Tuesday, the Kremlin press service reported.
"The Russian president congratulated Serdar Berdymukhamedov on his victory in the March 12 presidential election and wished him success in this responsible position," the Kremlin said.
The Kremlin noted that Putin also warmly thanked Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov for his great personal contribution to the development of bilateral relations and expressed confidence that as chairman of the upper house of parliament of Turkmenistan he would continue to promote the strengthening of the strategic partnership between Moscow and Ashgabat.
Congratulations to Serdar Berdymukhamedov
Also on Tuesday, the Russian leader sent a congratulatory telegram to Serdar Berdymukhamedov. "The results of the vote fully confirm your high political authority," the message reads, the text of which is published on the Kremlin website.
Putin expressed confidence that Serdar Berdymukhamedov's work in his new post "will contribute to further building up the whole range of constructive Russian-Turkmenistan relations." "This undoubtedly meets the interests of our friendly peoples, goes in the direction of strengthening peace, security and stability in Central Asia and the Caspian region," the Russian president said.
The telegram notes that relations between Moscow and Ashgabat are developing in the spirit of strategic partnership, there is a meaningful political dialogue, fruitful cooperation in various fields, as well as cooperation within the CIS, UN and other multilateral structures.
Putin wished the president-elect of Turkmenistan good health and well-being.
Earlier, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan (TDH) reported on the phone call. According to its information, the Russian leader congratulated the Turkmen leader on the successful holding of the elections, and he told him that he intended to continue to be active as chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty (upper house) of the country's parliament.
TDH notes that Berdymukhamedov expressed gratitude to Putin for his contribution to strengthening relations between Moscow and Ashgabat and the fruitful joint work. The leaders emphasized the high level of cooperation and discussed its promising directions, including the development of contacts between Turkmenistan and Russian regions.
The agency added that the Turkmen leader then passed the phone to President-elect Serdar Berdymukhamedov. Putin congratulated him on his convincing victory in the elections and wished him success.
In turn, the president-elect thanked the Russian leader for his congratulations and expressed willingness to continue the course initiated by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to steadily expand mutually beneficial partnership with Russia.
On Tuesday, Turkmenistan's Central Commission for Elections and Referenda announced that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's son Serdar, who was nominated by the country's ruling Democratic Party, had won the early presidential election with 72.97% of the vote and was declared president-elect. The elections were held on March 12. They were called after Berdymukhamedov Sr. said he wanted to give the way to politics to the young and resign as head of state. However, he remained the chairman of the upper house of parliament.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS