MOSCOW, January 15 Federation Council Commission on Protection State Sovereignty, during the monitoring, found that Western countries are increasing the number of participants in attempts to discredit the presidential elections in the Russian Federation, the commission says in the Telegram channel.
“The Commission of the Federation Council for the Protection of State Sovereignty and the Prevention of Interference in the Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation during its monitoring found that Western countries are increasing the number of participants in attempts to discredit the presidential elections in Russia. Foreign agents controlled by the media and NGOs are purposefully used to attempt interference,” the report says .
Senators note the particular activity of the Voice of America, sponsored by the US government and included in the register of foreign agents*. “This propaganda resource continues to circulate baseless attacks on the Russian electoral system and actually spreads calls for attempts to disrupt the vote. For example, on January 10, a material was published containing sweeping accusations of the intention to falsify voting results and calls for participation in illegal actions at polling stations in Russia and abroad on voting day,” explained members of the monitoring group.
It is noted that the movement «Voice»**, recognized as a foreign agent, continues to publish «unsubstantiated accusations of coercion and illegal collection of signatures.»
“Western officials are also involved in attempts to interfere in the Russian presidential election. For example, the head of the US Senate Judiciary Committee, Dick Durbin, believes that extremists and those who committed high treason are “patriotic Russians who are fighting against the Kremlin in the name of democracy and freedom.” Obviously “that such open support for traitors and radicals is aimed at stimulating destructive activities in the Russian Federation during the election campaign,” the commission members emphasized.
The Commission recorded the involvement of Western-controlled NGOs in attempts to discredit Russian legislation under the “cover of rhetoric about the protection of human rights.”
“An obvious manipulation of this kind was the Human Rights Watch report for 2023. Under the guise of an independent assessment, this so-called report criticizes Russia for protecting its sovereignty and traditional values, countering extremism, terrorism, rehabilitation of Nazism and other destructive manifestations. It is significant that This “report”, along with terrorists and extremists, expresses support for foreign agents and undesirable organizations participating in attempts to discredit the elections, including the “Voice” movement, recognized as a foreign agent.** Representative office of Human Rights Watch, Inc. (USA) has already was excluded by the Ministry of Justice from the register of branches and representative offices of international organizations and foreign NGOs in connection with identified violations of the current legislation of the Russian Federation,” the message says.
Presidential elections in Russia will be held from March 15 to March 17, 2024.
* Media performing the functions of a foreign agent
** Organization performing the functions of a foreign agent