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Hamas sees Russia visit as means to end regional isolation

Hamas political bureau leader Khaled Meshaal will visit Moscow in the coming weeks, where he is expected to ask Russia to help restore Hamas' ties with Iran and to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to soften his opposition to the Islamist movement.
Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal (L) and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shake hands as they meet in Moscow February 27, 2007. Meshaal praised Russia's efforts to end a Western aid embargo on the Palestinian administration during a visit to Moscow intended to win support for a new unity government.    REUTERS/Pool   (RUSSIA) - RTR1MVPV

Hamas spokesman Hossam Badran announced May 25 that the head of the movement’s political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, would visit Russia this month. Meshaal received an invitation during his meeting with Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Qatar in May.

The upcoming visit comes as Hamas suffers from regional isolation, and desires to break the political embargo against it.

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