Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan and Russian Foreign Minister met in Moscow today and discussed the establishment of peace in the South Caucasus.

Simonyan, according to a statement released by his office, stressed that Armenian POWs and civilians held in Azerbaijan must be released.

The two also discussed cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

Simonyan, making his first official visit to Russia since his election as parliamentary speaker, congratulated the Russian people on the recent parliamentary elections that saw the ruling United Russia party win 50% of the votes.

Several opposition candidates were prohibited from running and some observers maintain that the election was not free and fair.