Nechirvan Barzani The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has headed to Moscow for an official visit where he is expected to meet with the Russian President.

KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani left Erbil on Tuesday evening for an official visit to Russia where he is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, a statement released on the KRG website said.

The KRG statement added that Barzani, who was officially invited by Putin’s office through Chief Executive Officer of Rosneft Igor Sechin, would attend the 73rd  anniversary of National Victory Day in Moscow’s Red Square. 

After attending the Victory Day Parade, Barzani is expected to participate in some high-level, bilateral meetings with Russian officials, including a bilateral meeting with the newly re-elected Russian President, the KRG statement concluded.

During an annual end-of-year press conference in late 2017, Russia’s Putin said his country shared important, long-term relations with the Kurds.

“Our relations with Kurdistan and the Kurds are historical, long-term, and good and [we share] a good trust,” Putin told reporters.

A few major Russian oil firms are currently operating in the Kurdistan Region as well, including Rosneft, Gazprom, and Lukoil.