Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Alleges European Interference in Duma Elections

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Russia‘s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) issued a statement on Monday alleging that Europe is actively seeking to interfere with the upcoming elections for the Russian Duma. The SVR declared that the European Union and leading European countries have adopted an extensive strategy to destabilize the situation in Russia on the eve of the Duma elections.

The SVR further elaborated that Europe’s objective is to prevent the normal electoral process in Russia and to discredit the election results. The service pointed to actions taken in July, when it claims Europe encouraged Kyiv to intensify sabotage and terrorist attacks against Russia. European intelligence officials reportedly discussed conducting cyberattacks against Russia’s electoral infrastructure during visits to Ukraine.

Moscow asserted that Europe has tasked Russian opposition figures residing abroad with propagating claims regarding the illegitimacy of the Russian elections. The Russian opposition has allegedly received directives from the European Union to urge the international community not to recognize the election outcomes. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament are reportedly preparing not to recognize the election results in Russia.

The SVR statement added that Europe has urged Russian opposition members to work on fabricating revealing information against party representatives and to undertake provocative actions. The service concluded that neither the “illegitimate regime in Kyiv” nor “liberal-totalitarian Western circles” will be able to prevent the citizens of Russia from making their choices.