Russia summons the US ambassador over “attempts to interfere”

Russia summoned the US ambassador to Moscow, Lynn Tracy, on Thursday, to denounce what Moscow considers “attempts to interfere” by American non-governmental organizations in its internal affairs, a week before the presidential elections.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that during this call “it was particularly emphasized that attempts to interfere in Russia’s internal affairs (…) will be resolutely and resolutely suppressed.”

Moscow accuses three American non-governmental organizations specializing in education of “implementing programs and projects with an anti-Russian orientation with the support of the embassy” and seeking to “recruit influential agents under the guise of educational and cultural exchanges.”

The ministry further noted that these three NGOs, including the American Councils on International Education and the Institute of International Education, have been declared “undesirable” in Russia.

“The ambassador was handed an official note asking her to stop all aid to the activities of these non-governmental organizations,” the ministry said, which is also accused of “promoting positions and values ​​alien to Russian society.”

Moscow also warned Ms. Tracy against any “act of sabotage and dissemination of disinformation” ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for March 15-17, which are supposed to see Vladimir Putin re-elected due to the lack of real opposition.

The ministry threatened US embassy employees with expulsion if they were “involved in such actions.”