Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) alleged on Monday that plans are being initiated by the administration of US President Joe Biden to get involved in Russia's next presidential election.
The SVR said that the Biden administration was attempting to influence voter turnout through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) without providing any evidence. Based on the agency, the US is attempting to sabotage the election results by discouraging voters from participating.
Russia Claims US Plots to Disrupt Election
According to a statement provided on Monday, the agency's press bureau said that Washington is coordinating actions to disrupt the upcoming electoral process scheduled from March 15th to 17th, in order to raise questions about the credibility of the results.
Washington seems to be actively promoting messages encouraging Russian nationals to abstain from voting through opposition-affiliated internet sites, according to the SVR. Additionally, the agency says that the United States is planning cyber attacks on the remote electronic voting systems, which could disrupt the ballot count for many voters.
The report indicates a strategic plan devised by Washington to lower the number of voters. The agency contends that a drop in participation could give the West reason to dispute the election results, which could compromise Russia's democratic processes.
However, the SVR has warned that these alleged Western attempts to get involved in Russian electoral affairs could have unintended consequences. The intelligence service suggested the voting election victory of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022, where he secured less than 30% of the votes, as well as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's 26% support in the 2022 parliamentary elections among record-low voter participation, according to Big News Network.
Putin Expected to Cruise to Victory
Meanwhile, there is a lot of focus on the current President Vladimir Putin as he runs for another term. It is widely anticipated that Putin, aged 71, will win by an extensive amount, as he has strong support from the majority of Russian citizens, according to opinion polls.
Having been a KGB operative, Putin has held onto power since becoming acting president in 1999, going on to serve two presidential terms and a period as prime minister before recovering the presidency. The latest changes to the constitution might allow him to stay in power until 2036.
Challenging Putin in the electoral arena are contenders like Nikolai Kharitonov, a 75-year-old Communist Party candidate, who, despite trailing Putin in previous elections, remains a prominent figure. Kharitonov has expressed support for Putin's policies, including the military operation in Ukraine, while advocating for some opposition to the ruling United Russia party's domestic agenda.
Another contender, 56-year-old Vladimir Slutsky, representing the ultra-nationalist LDPR, seeks to capitalize on the legacy of his late predecessor, Vladimir Zhirinovsky. Slutsky's campaign emphasizes anti-Western rhetoric and promises to maintain stability amidst geopolitical tensions.
On the other hand, younger candidates such as 40-year-old Vladislav Davankov of the New People political party and reformist figures like Boris Nadezhdin, who was disqualified by the Central Election Commission due to his anti-war stance, present different perspectives on Russia's future.
The election landscape also bears the absence of prominent figures like Alexei Navalny, Putin's vocal critic, who died earlier this year. Navalny's supporters continue to mobilize, despite his absence, advocating for their cause amid allegations of Kremlin suppression.
Russian politics is marked by greater geopolitical worries, which are made apparent by suspicions of foreign engagement as the country prepares for its election campaign. The impending vote will act as a crucial indicator of Russia's commitment to democracy in the face of global observation and internal opposition, Reuters reported.
