Putin congratulates Ukraine's Yanukovich on election victory: Interfax

MOSCOW, Nov 22 (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has called Ukraine's pro-Moscow prime minister Viktor Yanukovich to congratulate him on his contested win in the presidential runoff, Interfax news agency reported Monday.
Putin made the phone call while on a visit to Brazil, news agencies quoted chief Kremlin spokesman Alexei Gromov as saying.
The Russian leader "emphasized that the (election) battle was open and honest and that the victory was decisive," Gromov said.

11/22/2004 17:17 GMT - AFP