Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday said that the US system of electing presidents is archaic and distorts the will of the people, reported AFP.

Joe Biden succeeded the popular vote by over five million ballots in the US last week but that converted to a massive tight margin in the electoral college that eventually picks the president. 

In regard to other influential countries in the world, the US electoral system is “probably the most archaic”, Lavrov said.

Addressing a virtual press conference on Thursday, he said that the system “significantly distorts the will of the population”.

Outgoing President Donald Trump has refuted to concede, instead mounting a series of legal challenges over the verdict.

Unlike many global leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not congratulated Biden on the win because of the court disputes.

In the US polls pf 2016, Putin sent a congratulatory note to Trump within an hour of his claim of victory.

Lavrov on Wednesday mentioned that Russia could not congratulate Biden until official results were declared.

“The State Department has also not yet recognised the presidential election,” AFP quoted him as saying, noting that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called for patience until all of the ballots are counted.

Putin has already won four presidential elections and recently amended the constitution to permit him to remain president until 2036.

Notably, Biden will be the fourth US president since Putin came to power in 2000.