Russia believes that it essential to adhere to legal norms and maintain respect for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Iraq on the issue of independence for Iraqi Kurdistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at his annual news conference on Thursday.

Axar.az reports citing TASS.

"A referendum on independence was held, and then Kurdistan’s leader (Masoud Barzani) stated that the implementation of this decision should be postponed. Later, he resigned but the decision is active," Putin reiterated. "We regard it the way that everything should occur without any abrupt manifestations, within the current laws and with respect for Iraq’s territorial integrity, considering that the leadership of Kurdistan itself acted this way."