Moscow, Nov 16, IRNA – Moscow does not view Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah as well as Hamas as terrorist organizations, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told the Interfax news agency Sunday.

“Some say Hezbollah is a terrorist organization,” Bogdanov was quoted as saying. “We maintain contacts and relations with them because we do not consider them a terrorist organization.”

The Russian official noted that members of the Shia group’s political wing were legally elected to Lebanese Parliament, and that the organization had never carried out attacks on Russian soil. He added that the group was a “legitimate sociopolitical” force.

Bogdanov also said Russia does not consider Gaza-based Hamas as a terrorist group, either.

Under pressure from the Zionist regime, certain European states and US has put the names of Hamas and Hezbollah in the list of terrorist organizations.

By IRNA