HAVANA, Cuba. – Army General Raul Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba, sent a warm message of congratulation to Vladimir Putin, for his rotund victory in the presidential elections, Prensa Latina reported.

This Sunday, Putin consolidated his triumph overwhelmingly by being re-elected for another six years as President of Russia, a period in which he will make the country to take a technological leap and shield its security with new generations of armaments.

The victory was announced after the counting of more than 98 percent of the ballots deposited, which indicated a support of 76, 64 percent.

The Russian President, the only independent candidate of a total of eight participants, called on the voters to unite for Russia’s future, regardless of their vote.