Russia supports Kurdistan politically and logistically

MOSCOW, Russia (Kurdistan24) – A Russian Kurdish Member of Parliament emphasized on Friday that Russia supports Kurdistan in all domains, confirming his support for Kurds all over the world.

Zelimkhan Mutsoev, a Russian Kurdish MP for five rounds, sat with Kurdistan24 and discussed Kurdistan’s independence in light of the Kurdish-Russian relations.

Mutsoev, who won Russia's parliamentary elections on Sep. 18 with over 60 percent votes, called on the Kurdish parliamentarians in the Kurdistan Region to leave political conflicts aside and focus on defeating the Islamic State (IS).

“My message to the Kurdistan Region MPs is to forget about the political parties’ privileges and mistakes, and focus on defeating [IS],” he said.

Mutsoev explained what hinders Kurdistan independence is neither the lack of international support nor the war against IS, but rather the internal Kurdish disputes.

“Unite all your fractions and become one strong siege around Kurdistan and the president [Barzani],” he commented.  

Addressing the conflicting Kurdish political parties in the Region, he added, “You all share one thing now: your enemy is [IS], so focus on its defeat.”

Regarding the demands of the opposition parties in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Mutsoev advised to postpone them.   

“My message to the opposition is the following: when [IS] is defeated then call the ruling party of Kurdistan and hold it accountable,” he said.  

On his support for the Kurds, Mutsoev confirmed that whether he wins the elections or not, he would keep supporting Kurds everywhere.

“Kin-blood is not spoiled by water, and I will keep supporting my people [the Kurds] financially and politically,” he said.

RUSSIA-KURDISTAN RELATIONS

In the domain of the bilateral relations between Russia and the Kurdistan Region, Mutsoev said they are much better than before.  

“Russia has supported Kurdistan politically and logistically in the fight against [IS], and also many deliveries of weapons were transported to Kurdistan in the last period,” he stated.

“The Russian-Kurdish relations will further improve in the future,” he added.

Additionally, Mutsoev pointed out the public opinion in Russia always says the world will support whatever the Kurdish factions agree on in Kurdistan.

Concerning the Mosul liberation and President Masoud Barzani’s condition regarding a guarantee for the Yazidis (Ezidis) and their rights, Mutsoev praised the efforts and services made by the Peshmerga and KRG.   

“President Barzani and Peshmerga have done a great favor for Shingal and the Ezidis. They defeated [IS] and liberated Shingal,” he said.

“The Kurdistan Regional Government also hosts more than 300,000 Ezidis in Kurdistan,” he added.

The parliamentarian's brother Amirkhan Mori donated one million dollars to Ezidi refugees in Kurdistan through the Barzani Charity Foundation.

Finally, Mutsoev called on Kurdistan’s businessmen and MPs to back President Barzani and the Kurdish forces.

“Support Kurdistan and help it overcome the crisis,” he concluded.  

The Russian Parliamentary elections had been planned for Dec. 4, 2016, but the Constitutional Court of Russia accepted conducting early elections on Sep. 18, 2016. 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany