Putin mets with Armenian leader in Moscow

Talks between Russian and Armenian leaders in Moscow focused on bilateral economic integration, a Tuesday statement from the Kremlin read. Russian President Vladimir Putin met Tuesday with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. Putin's office said the officials would discuss integration within the Commonwealth of Independent States, a regional consortium of former Soviet republics. "The talks will address ways to further promote Russian-Armenian relations, regional problems and the prospects for deepening cooperation within the CIS and as part of Eurasian integration processes," the Voice of Russia quoted Putin's office as stating. Sargsyan's visit comes amid political trouble at home. He won re-election last month, though his challenger, former Foreign Minister Raffi Hovannisian, announced the start of a hunger strike to protest the results. Elections observers said the February contest was orderly but reported signs of interference at the polls, primarily by supporters of Sargsyan.