Russia: Hopes for Continued Relations with Turkey Regardless of Election Outcome

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov affirmed today, Monday, the continuation and strengthening of cooperation with Ankara, regardless of the winner in the Turkish presidential elections, which are set for a runoff on May 28. Peskov noted that Russia "greatly values the choice of the Turkish people and will respect it, but in any case, we expect our cooperation to continue, strengthen, and expand." He added that Russia views Turkey as a "mature democracy, capable of conducting transparent elections and preventing legal violations." Turkey is heading for a runoff in the presidential elections after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan led over opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the elections held yesterday, Sunday, but did not secure a sufficient absolute majority to win in the first round and extend his 20-year rule in the NATO member state.