Demirtas in Moscow for talks with Russian officials

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region--The Kurdish leader of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas is in Moscow where is due to meet Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today and seek the opening of his party's office in the Russian capital.

HDP officials said that Demirtas met on Tuesday with members of the Kurdish business community in Moscow.

He is accompanied by party officials including foreign relations head Nazmi Gur.

The HDP won 59 seats in Turkish parliament in November's snap elections.

Demirtas' visit to Moscow comes amid soured relations between Turkey and Russia over the downing of a Russian jet last month.

Russia has not openly expressed support for the HDP but has in recent weeks hailed Syrian Kurds as an effective fighting force against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.