Russia on Saturday extended its support to India on theabrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, and said that the change instatus and division into Union Territories was carried out within framework ofthe Constitution of India.  President RamNath Kovind on Friday gave assent to a legislation for bifurcation of Jammu andKashmir, and two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh -- willcome into existence on October 31.

The Parliament had earlier this week given its nod to thelegislation for bifurcating the state, a bold and far-reaching decision thatseeks to redraw the map and future of a region at the centre of a protractedmilitancy movement.

Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued today, saidit expects that India and Pakistan will not allow aggravation of the situationin the region due to the change by Delhi in the status of the state of Jammuand Kashmir."We proceed from fact that the changes associated with thechange in the status of the state of J&K and its division into two unionterritories are carried out within framework of the Constitution of theRepublic of India," it added.

Russia is a consistent supporter of normalization ofrelations between India and Pakistan, it said, hoping that the differences willbe resolved by political and diplomatic means on a bilateral basis.