Putin warns against foreign interference in parliamentary elections

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned foreign powers not to interfere in the country’s parliamentary elections seven months ahead of the polls.

Russia would protect the vote from any attempts to influence it, he said during an online meeting with the four parliamentary party leaders in the State Duma on Wednesday.

“We cannot and will not allow a blow to Russia’s sovereignty,” Putin said.

Russia has itself repeatedly faced accusations that it has interfered in the national elections of other countries. US intelligence agencies have already concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to benefit Donald Trump.

Russia is scheduled to elect a new parliament on September 19, with the pro-Putin United Russia party set to defend its absolute two-thirds majority.

Right-wing populist Vladimir Zhirinovsky of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) on Wednesday accused the governing party of maintaining a power monopoly.

“The people do not want monopolists,” the 74-year-old said, comparing the dominance of United Russia to that of the Communist party during Soviet times.

Zhirinovsky also criticized the fact that LDPR candidates were obstructed in the preparation of electoral lists.

In addition to the LDPR, the parliamentary factions of the Communists and the A Just Russia party are also among the political forces loyal to the Kremlin, while there is no real opposition in the Duma.

Government critics have been accusing United Russia of using systematic electoral fraud to gain supremacy in parliament.

International election monitors have also repeatedly complained of voter fraud in the past.