Lavrov: Syrian parliamentary elections aim to avoid a legal vacuum

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Syria’s parliamentary elections on Wednesday are aimed at avoiding a legal vacuum in the country. The comment was made during a joint press conference held on Wednesday by the Russian minister with his Argentinian counterpart Susanna Malcorra in the Russian capital of Moscow.

Lavrov said that elections “will facilitate the work of the state’s institutions”.

He pointed out that Syrian negotiating parties are expected to agree in Geneva on a draft for a new constitution, stressing that the constitution will be adopted as the basis for a smooth transition to the new system and then early elections will be held afterwards.

The Russian foreign minister stressed the need to avoid the creation of a vacuum in Syria’s legislative and executive branches while waiting for a consensus to be reached regarding the new constitution.

France described the parliamentary elections organised by the Syrian regime in the areas under its control as a “sham”.