The Foreign Ministry held a briefing of the Federation Council’s Interim Commission for the Protection of State Sovereignty and the Prevention of Interference in the Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Central Election Commission with the participation of foreign diplomats.
Representatives of the Federation Council’s Interim Commission for the Protection of State Sovereignty and the Prevention of Interference in the Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Central Election Commission (CEC) held a briefing with the foreign diplomats from almost 50 OSCE countries. The briefing took place at the Foreign Ministry of Russia.
According to the Chair of the Interim Commission and member of the Federation Council Commission on Foreign Affairs Andrei Klimov, this meeting has been planned since November 2020.
“We did this because our foreign partners have repeatedly asked us questions on Russian law and because the social and foreign media have published stories that do not reflect reality. We gave foreign diplomats a way to receive reliable information,” Klimov said.
The Senator noted the importance of explaining Russian legislative acts and the decisions of the Interim Commission. At the same time, Mr Klimov emphasised that nobody from abroad has the right to interfere in elections in the Russian Federation.
“We should pass a judgment on the elections ourselves, first of all. The CEC must sum up the results, or, in the event of a dispute, ̶ the Russian court,” Klimov said.
The Chair of the Interim Commission spoke about the high quality of the meeting and the interest from the foreign diplomats.
“Some countries sent two representatives to the meeting; there were many ambassadors, charges d’affairs and counsellor-envoys. Meetings like this were not held in Soviet times, or in modern Russia. It was a unique event,” he said.
Andrei Klimov said the diplomats asked questions about the registration of candidates from among foreign agents and about restrictions due to the epidemiological situation.
There was also a question on the possibility of adopting new election laws. The Senator replied that for the time being the legislative foundation is sufficient for practical use.
“However, this does not mean that the Interim Commission’s job is finished. We take only response measures. New methods of interference with changing technology, including the latest computer technology, are being used. They also require a response,” Klimov said.
The meeting at the Foreign Ministry was also attended by Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Commission on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, CEC member Igor Borisov, and State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov.