“A recent Russian parliamentary vote may have been flawed but still represented the will of the people”, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday, adding his support for a recently proposed racist bill that would ban mosques from using loudspeakers to call worshippers to prayer.

Lieberman also addressed the criticism against him for his support of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin over reports of irregularities in the elections. “The election results reflect the mood in Russia, election mishaps happen everywhere,” he claimed, adding: “Putin may not be the best choice but what is the alternative? Only the communists.”

Lieberman’s comment on the Russian vote came as a defense of a remark on the subject he made last week, according to which the elections in Russia were fair. Lieberman said that the errors in Russia’s elections did not significantly alter the results. “In Russian villages the elections did not operate like in Zurich or Basel… but is it much different than what happens in Israel in various villages?” he asked.  “The elections were not perfect but they were reflective of the situation. There were various problems and that also happens in more advanced countries, lest I remind you the Florida elections between [George W.] Bush and Al Gore.”