Russia hopes events in Macedonia seeking renaming country's name unfold in line with law

Russia said on Monday it hoped the situation in Macedonia would unfold in line with the law after a referendum there seeking to change the country's name failed to secure the 50 per cent turnout needed to make it valid.

Macedonia's prime minister has pledged to press ahead with a vote in parliament to change the country's name to resolve a decades-old dispute with Greece.

"We are observing closely and of course think that all the processes should remain within the framework of the law," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.