Spokesperson of Egypt's constitution amending committee Mohamed Salmawi announced that a popular diplomacy delegation is in Moscow to thank Russian authorities for their stance on the "30 June revolution."
Salmawi said via phone on the privately-owned TV station Al-Hayat on Thursday evening that the delegation will meet with a number of Russian officials, possibly to include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Ahram's Arabic website reported.
Egyptians came out en masse on 30 June to demand that Islamist president Mohamed Morsi leave office. On 3 July, the military removed Morsi from power.
Putin expressed in July his concern that Egypt would slide into civil war after security forces cracked down on Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters following Morsi's ouster.
However, Russia has nevertheless voiced its support for the "aspirations of the Egyptian people for a better life with freedom and democratic renewal," as it first stated on 4 July. Moscow has also refrained from following Turkey's footsteps in attacking the army's decision to remove Morsi.
Egyptian presidential adviser Ahmed El-Muslimani told Saudi Daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat earlier this week that the "positive stance of President Vladimir Putin towards the June revolution explains the rise in his popularity."
According to Salmawi, the delegation will meet with Russia's special envoy to the Middle East Mikhail Bogdanov as well as Russian parliamentarians.
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