Lavrov extends best wishes to Türkiye for successful election on May 14

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov extended best wishes to Türkiye for successful presidential and parliamentary elections slated for May 14 and expressed confidence that they would be fair and transparent.

"I would like to wish my Turkish counterparts a successful general electionş I am confident that they [these elections] will be fair and transparent and that they will enable the Turkish nation to express their will without any external meddling," Russia’s top diplomat said, opening a meeting on the peace process in Syria with the Syrian, Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers, TASS reports.

Lavrov highlighted Türkiye's international and regional prestige as a country that he said was "a good neighbour and an important partner" for Russia, noting that this has increased in recent years.

"We are seeking to expand and deepen our bilateral cooperation," he emphasized.

Türkiye will hold presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday, May 14. Four candidates are vying for the presidency, with the marquee rivalry between incumbent leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and united opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

To win, a candidate must garner over 50 per cent of the votes. Turkish political analysts say it may be necessary to hold a runoff on May 28, depending on the outcome of the balloting on May 14.

Prior to the quadrilateral meeting, the foreign ministers of Türkiye and Russia Mevlut Cavusoglu and Sergey Lavrov held a closed-door meeting.

"Prior to Quadripartite Meeting met w/FM Lavrov. Discussed developments in Syria, Caucasus, Ukraine & Grain Deal," Cavusoglu said on Twitter.

Speaking at the quadrilateral meeting on Syria, the minister voiced Ankara's priorities.

"At the meeting on Syria, the Turkish side stressed the importance of cooperation in the fight against terrorism, joint efforts to create conditions for the return of refugees to their homeland, promotion of the political process, as well as the need to protect the territorial integrity of Syria," Cavusoglu said on Twitter.