Russia praises Syrian election, criticises Western reaction
 

Syrian ally Russia said on Thursday that observers had found the presidential election in which Bashar al-Assad retained power to have been fair, free and transparent, and criticised nations that de**unced the vote. "Moscow sees the vote as an important event that safeguards the continued functioning of state institutions in Syria," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told reporters at a briefing. He said the election was "naturally **t 100 percent democratic" due to the conflict in Syria, but that tur**ut, transparency and the findings of foreign monitors "give us ** reason to question the legitimacy of the election". "It is unacceptable to ig**re the views of millions of Syrians." Syria's parliament speaker said on Wednesday that Assad won 88.7 percent in the election, which was held mainly in areas where his forces hold sway.

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