Russia’s Embassy in the United States has blasted public remarks by U.S. officials over the disqualification of opposition leader Alexei Navalny from the 2018 presidential vote.
Two weeks ago, Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of election meddling after a State Department spokesperson expressed concern over Navalny’s exclusion due to a criminal conviction.
The Russian embassy said that allegations about Navalny’s exclusion from the election for political reasons are "absolutely groundless and politicized” in a statement published Tuesday.
“In this regard, we wish to calm the ‘hot heads’ in America: demands to allow someone’s participation in the Russian elections [...] are unacceptable and are deemed as direct interference in our country’s internal affairs,” the Russian Embassy said.
“Suspicions of the upcoming elections being undemocratic are invalid,” it added.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
