MOSCOW (Sputnik) — "When the fight against the Islamic State militant group is over, free elections under international control could be carried out within a year," Alexander Orlov said, as quoted by the France Info radio station.
The diplomat also expressed hope for the "democratic transition" of power in Damascus, through reform and dialogue with the opposition.
Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting against opposition forces and numerous extremist militant groups, including Islamic State and the Nusra Front.
1 October 2015, 00:50 GMT
Since the beginning of the war, the United States and some of its allies have supported a moderate Syrian opposition, calling for the resignation of President Bashar Assad, while Russia views the Syrian leader as the only credible force capable of countering extremism in the country.
Since the beginning of the conflict, both Moscow and Geneva have hosted two rounds of talks between the country’s leadership and opposition.
In August, all members of the United Nations Security Council supported a resolution calling for renewed peace talks on the Syrian conflict, including discussion of a political transition in the country.