Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said that there were “external attempts to influence” the Bangladesh election, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sworn to power for her fifth term.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Zakharova expressed regret that some opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), chose not to participate in the election.
“The leadership of Bangladesh should be recognised for creating favourable conditions for the free expression of voters’ will in this situation,” the Russian diplomat stated.
Zakharova remarked that over 200 international observers who witnessed the election have confirmed the “legitimacy” of the vote and its adherence to “generally accepted standards”.
She noted that Andrey Shutov, a member of Russia’s Central Election Commission, also observed the election on 7 January.
Zakharova said that President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin had extended congratulations to Zakharova on assuming office.
Russia Hopes to Expand Ties with Bangladesh
In his message to Bangladesh Prime Minister, Mishustin remarked that bilateral relations had been “steadily developing in the spirit of friendship, mutual respect and partnership.”.
“I am confident that active joint work at the governmental level will be conducive to broader cooperation in the trade and economic, scientific and technical, cultural and humanitarian spheres,” the Russian Prime Minister stated.
Mishustin highlighted that expanding bilateral cooperation was in the mutual interest of both the nations.