Zakharova: West did everything over year to disrupt Russian presidential election

Moscow’s Western opponents actively tried over the past year to disrupt the Russian presidential election, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS on Saturday.

“Our opponents stirred up not just a week or a month ago. It seems to me that over the past year they did everything to either disrupt the presidential election or prevent it from being held or distort the conception of the elections in different ways,” the diplomat said.

The West has organized misinformation campaigns and influence in the cyber sphere: from spreading the corresponding content to blocking the apps of Russian organizations on digital platforms, which is also “a very serious element of influence,” she pointed out, according to TASS.

The West also used paid opposition that turned out to be “agents of influence and simply hirelings,” the diplomat explained.

“That is, all methods were used,” she pointed out.

“But nothing helps it [the West],” she stressed.

The unity of Russian citizens amidst the country’s presidential election causes the West’s fury, Zakharova said.

“The country has consolidated and is a single whole. Moreover, this is unity in the face of the threat that is evident and unity, what is especially important, for solving the tasks that we face,” the diplomat said.

“This causes savage fury, hatred and aggression and they are already foaming, you know, coming out with some green pus. Let them choke on it,” she said.

No serious violations in the Russian presidential election

On the other hand, CIS observers have registered no serious violations in the Russian presidential election, Mikhail Rusy, coordinator of observers from the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly told TASS on Saturday.

“There are no serious violations,” he said.

Russian citizens are actively voting in the country’s presidential election, he said.

The Russian presidential election has been organized at a high level, CIS observers said, particularly commending the conditions created for the vote.

“[We assess] very positively the level [the election has been organized] and the level of creating conditions for the vote,” the CIS coordinator said.

CIS observers have also assessed the legislative framework for the elections, he added.

“The legislative framework complies with the highest world standards. This is the conclusion that we have prepared,” he said.