Moscow accuses Washington.
Russia summoned the American ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy, this Thursday to denounce what Moscow considers to be “attempts to interfere” by American NGOs in its internal affairs, one week before the Russian presidential election.
During this convocation, “it was particularly emphasized that attempts to interfere in Russia's internal affairs (…) will be firmly and resolutely repressed,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
⚡️ 7 martin in МИД России была вызвана глава американской дипмиссии Л.Тре йси, которую уведомили о признании нежелательными в Российской Федера ции трёх НКО США, реализующих при поддержке @USEmbRu программы and и проекты ант ироссийской направленности
🔗 https://t.co/u2MC1wyvGi pic.twitter .com/WmD4HH9sRW
— МИД России 🇷🇺 (@MID_RF) March 7, 2024
Moscow accuses three American NGOs specializing in education of “implementing programs and projects of anti-Russian orientation with the support of the embassy” and of seeking to “recruit agents of influence under the cover of educational and cultural exchanges.
Three “undesirable” NGOs
These three NGOs, including the American Councils for International Education and the Institute of International Education, have been declared “undesirable” in Russia, the ministry further indicated.
“The ambassador was given an official note asking her to cease all assistance to the activities of these NGOs”, also accused of “promoting attitudes and values foreign to Russian society”, again according to the ministry.
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Moscow also warned Lynne Tracy against any “subversive action and dissemination of disinformation” before the presidential election of March 15-17, which should see Vladimir Putin re-elected for lack of real opposition.
The ministry threatened US embassy employees with expulsion if they were “involved in such actions”.