Putin Expresses Interest in Serbia Presidential Race

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has written to President Tomislav Nikolic of Serbia saying that the Kremlin will follow the 2017 Serbian presidential election "with full attention".

In the letter handed to Nikolic by Russian ambassador to Belgrade Aleksandar Chepurin, Putin confirmed Russia's wish to continue a strategic partnership.

"Political dialogue has developed and agreements were reached that opened up good possibilities for implementing bilateral projects of mutual interest," Putin wrote, according to the Serbian President's press office.

Chepurin stated that Moscow prizes the development of bilateral relations with Belgrade and added that Serbia and Russia have "established a system of great trust, and good relations".

Nikolic has indicated in recent weeks that he may run for another term as Serbia's head of state.

However, the ruling Serbian Progressive Party - which backed Nikolic in the election in 2012, when he beat Democrat Boris Tadic - has yet to decide its nominee.

So far, only the Ombudsman, Sasa Jankovic, has confirmed he will be running for the post.