The United States and other Western countries attempted to keep Vladimir Putin from seeking the presidency since at least 2011, Russian senators have claimed in a draft paper reported on Monday.
The Russian Federation Council’s commission on the protection of state sovereignty has issued a series of reports casting blame on the U.S. since American intelligence agencies accused Russia of interfering in the 2016 presidential vote. Besides flagging attempts to wire money to opposition candidates through Central Asia and deploy foreign media outlets, Russian senators tallied “at least 120 cases” of U.S. interference in the affairs of other countries since 1946.
“Beginning at least since 2011, a goal was set to prevent Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin from assuming the presidency,” Andrei Klimov, the chairman of the state sovereignty commission, was cited as saying by the state-run TASS news agency Monday.
The Russian senator said that Western countries created and stirred up media scandals to provoke irrational responses from the Russian leadership “to force it to make unacceptable errors,” according to the state-run RIA news agency.
The countries attempted to “discredit Putin’s own personality; his foreign and domestic policy both within Russia and around the world, and to split the president’s team, including his long-time friends and colleagues,” Klimov said.
The commission's full report is expected to be released later this month.
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.
