DISINFO: The USA is trying to interfere in the Russian presidential elections
SUMMARY
At Washington's instigation, opposition Internet resources encourage Russians to ignore the election of the head of state.
The United States is also planning to carry out cyberattacks on the remote electronic voting system with the participation of leading IT specialists. The initiators of such sabotage want to make it impossible to count the votes of a significant number of voters.
In addition, the administration of US President Joe Biden sets American NGOs the task of reducing voter turnout in the upcoming March 15-17 vote, to then cast doubt on the election results.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative accusing the US of election meddling, destabilising Russia, cyberattacks, and anti-Russian policies.
The purpose is to work up fear, paranoia, and further animosity among the Russian population toward Western countries.
No credible evidence was provided to back the claim. "The SVR, the main successor to the KGB's First Directorate foreign spying service, advanced the accusation of the US planned cyberattacks on Russian electoral system but did not set out any evidence for its assertions," Reuters noted.
The White House called Russian allegations "categorically false and nothing more than propaganda."
Russia has for several years refused to formally invite OSCE election observers to monitor elections within its territory. The most recent instance when the OSCE observed elections in Russia was in 2018.
Russia has been known to repeatedly accuse others of actions it carries out itself. There have been multiple reports documenting Russia's interference in the elections and referendums of democratic countries. Russian interference in the US 2020 election has been established beyond doubt not only by US intelligence but also by law enforcement officials, journalists and researchers. Read also the report "Five European Experiences With Russian Election Interference", about the Russian meddling in the election campaigns in France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Presidential elections were held in Russia from March 15 to March 17. Acknowledging the impossibility of influencing the primary outcome, numerous opposition politicians emphasised the importance of going to the polling stations to express their dissent. Read more about the polling day protest called Midday against Putin.
See other similar cases: NATO preparing provocateurs to orchestrate unlawful actions during the Russian election campaign; The US and its satellite PACE are interfering in the 2024 Russian elections; The West ran a campaign to discredit the State Duma election; EU countries, not Russia, interfered in US elections 2016 and 2020.