Turkey denounces Syria's presidential elections

Photo: SANA

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Turkey has denounced this week's presidential election in Syria as "unrepresentative, unfair, and illegal."

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry described yesterday's (May 26) election as "illegitimate," adding that it does "not reflect the free will of the people."

The ministry said that the election is being held under unfair and unfree conditions and fails to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 on political solutions to the Syrian conflict, and exposes Syria's "insincere approach" to the political process.

The statement stressed the need to continue the uninterrupted political process carried out under UN facilitation, under the ownership and leadership of Syrians.

On Tuesday, top diplomats from the US, UK, France, Germany, and Italy said Syria's presidential election will "neither be free nor fair."

Assad has been the victor in every election since he took power in 2000 as heir to his father, Hafez al-Assad.

The decision to hold elections was made despite the ongoing military conflict, lack of any political solution in sight, failure of negotiations between the opposition and the regime, and the displacement of more than 10 million Syrians either as refugees or internally displaced persons.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad dismissed criticism, asserting that the election showed Syria's unity. (PT/VK)