The Russian leader has praised the historically close ties between Moscow and Pretoria

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Freedom Day, the national holiday marking Pretoria's first elections since the end of the oppressive apartheid regime.

In a messagepublishedon the Kremlin website on Sunday, Putin lauded relations between Russia and South Africa and reaffirmed Moscow's commitment to deepening bilateral ties. He highlighted existing cooperation across several sectors, including trade, economic development, research, and humanitarian efforts at both regional and global levels.

"Relations between our countries are at a high level - this was fully confirmed by our joint work during the last year's BRICS summit in Kazan," he stated.

"I am confident that we will continue to comprehensively develop the Russian-South African strategic partnership. This fully meets the interests of our friendly peoples and is in line with consolidation of international security and stability," Putin added.

South Africa and Russia have maintained close ties, both as BRICS members and due to Moscow's history of support for the anti-apartheid movement.

Freedom Day highlights the African country's historic transition from apartheid - the system of institutionalized racial segregation that entrenched white minority rule and oppressed the majority black population - to democracy. The first democratic elections were held on April 27, 1994, with the late Nelson Mandela becoming the country's first black president.

During the apartheid era, Russia, then part of the Soviet Union, played a key supportive role by backing anti-apartheid movements, including providing political and military support to liberation organizations such as the African National Congress (ANC).

In aspeech deliveredon his behalf during Freedom Day celebrations on Sunday, Ramaphosa acknowledged that South Africa's liberation was made possible with the support of many countries around the world.

He said South Africa's journey to true freedom remains incomplete, with persistent challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality still facing the nation.

"The legacy of our bitter past continues to manifest itself in nearly all facets of life. We are one of the world's most unequal societies. It is said that the richest 10% of South Africans own approximately 85% of the country's financial assets," he stated.

Ramaphosa pledged his government's commitment to building a more equal society, vowing to continue efforts to achieve economic and social justice through affirmative action and land reform.

(RT.com)