Putin: Foreign Enemies Plan to Interfere in Russia Elections
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that foreign enemies were seeking to disrupt upcoming parliamentary elections and ordered Russia's security service to be vigilant.
In September, the country will hold parliamentary elections. Speaking to the FSB security service, Putin said he knew from the documents he had in his possession that "unfortunately our foreign enemies are, too, preparing for these elections."
"That is why everyone should know that we will work to persistently protect our interests, in accordance with the law," Putin said on Friday, AFP reported.
He added that foreign intelligence services had become more active in Russia last year, saying that 400 foreign spies and agents had been exposed and 23 of them had been prosecuted.
More than 24 million cyberattacks on Russia's state websites and information systems were recorded last year, Putin said.
"It is of course necessary to stop any outside attempts to intervene in the elections, our domestic political life," he said.
"It is the job of the FSB and other agencies to do everything to thwart the activities of those who are trying or may try to use nationalistic, xenophobic, and radical slogans aimed at driving a wedge in our society," Putin said, according to a text released by the Kremlin.
