Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected accusations that Russia demonstratively showed support for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the presidential election in Iran. “Russia never does anything demonstratively,” Lavrov said during a brief news conference after the meeting with Austrian Minister for European and International Affairs Michael Spindelegger.
Lavrov said the Russian side had congratulated the Iranian president when the results of the presidential election were announced. “As to fairness, openness and democratic nature of the election, these matters should be decided on the basis of Iranian laws,” the Russian minister stressed. “As far as I can see, a debate in Iranian society, also at the top level, is conducted on these themes, and appropriate measures are taken.”
At the same time Lavrov expressed concern over “the outbreaks of violence in Tehran and other cities” and called on everyone “to show restraint, to keep from infringing Iranian law.” “This is in the interests of the development of Iranian society, in the interests of stability,” he said.
At the presidential election on June 12 incumbent president of Iran Ahmadinejad earned 62.63 percent of the poll, and the runner-up, ex-premier Mir Hossein Musavi, earned 33.75 percent. Even before the official results were announced had Musavi proclaimed his victory and later accused the authorities of rigging the voting results. There were clashes between oppositionists and law enforces in the streets of Tehran past Saturday. According to various data, the clashes took the toll of from 15 to 19 lives, about one hundred were wounded and over 450 people arrested.
