Zakharova rejects Italian claim Russia may interfere in Italy's elections
In short
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on 8 October that Russia does not interfere and will not interfere in elections in Italy or any other country. She was responding at a briefing to Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who said Russia could try to influence elections in Italy. Zakharova said no evidence of Russian interference had ever been presented and accused Western political elites of intervening in other countries' election campaigns.
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on 8 October that Russia does not intend to interfere in elections in Italy or any other country. Speaking at a briefing in Moscow, she was answering a journalist's request to comment on remarks by Italy's foreign minister that Russia might try to influence elections in Italy, Interfax reported. Vedomosti identified the minister as Antonio Tajani. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
"No one has ever presented any evidence of alleged Russian participation in any form of influence, interference or pressure," Zakharova said, according to Interfax. She said later investigations had shown these were invented stories, citing the United States and Austria as examples, and added that there could be no question of Russian interference in election processes abroad. [ 2 ]
"This is not our style, unlike Western political elites, who, without hesitation, crudely and in front of the whole world intrude in election campaigns," she said, as quoted by Interfax and Vedomosti. In the Interfax version she added that such elites "sometimes simply kidnap presidents of countries" and exert direct pressure on political communities and state interests. Vedomosti reported her as saying the West feels completely free to exert political pressure on states it is interested in and that nothing restrains Western countries in shaping political processes in sovereign states. [ 2 , 3 ]
RIA Novosti reported that Zakharova also said that in recent years no election in Western countries had taken place without what she called painful accusations of alleged Russian interference, describing this as "not entirely healthy". She said countries that present themselves as leaders in democracy depend on the theme of Russian involvement in their electoral cycles. [ 4 ]
According to RIA Novosti, Zakharova said those countries need an external factor and have chosen Russia, using what she called an invented story to push through measures that would not otherwise be supported. She said this pointed to their weakness, vulnerability and the absence of internal political dialogue conducted without reference to outside factors. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The remarks are Moscow's official answer to an Italian government warning about possible Russian influence on Italy's elections, and were carried by both state and business outlets in Russia. Zakharova also framed such accusations as a recurring feature of elections across Western Europe, signalling that Moscow intends to reject similar claims elsewhere.
Key facts
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow does not interfere in other countries' elections. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- She spoke at a briefing on 8 October in response to a question about remarks by Italy's foreign minister. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Vedomosti identified the Italian foreign minister as Antonio Tajani, who had said Russia might interfere in Italy's elections. [ 3 ]
- Zakharova said no one had ever presented evidence of Russian involvement and that later investigations, for example in the United States and Austria, showed such stories were invented. [ 2 ]
- She said interference was "not our style", unlike Western political elites, who she said intrude in election campaigns. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Zakharova said that in recent years no election in Western countries had taken place without accusations of alleged Russian interference. [ 4 ]
- She said such accusations are used as an external factor in domestic political struggles in those countries. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Zakharova said Russia does not interfere in elections in other countries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Her comments were a response to the Italian foreign minister's remarks about possible Russian influence on Italy's elections. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Zakharova said interference was "not our style", in contrast to Western political elites who she said openly intrude in election campaigns. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Zakharova said elections in Western Europe are routinely accompanied by accusations of alleged Russian interference. [ 4 ]
Still unclear
- What exactly the Italian foreign minister said, and when, about possible Russian interference. The documents report his remarks only indirectly, through Zakharova's response, and give no date or wording.
- Which Italian elections the warning referred to. The documents mention elections in Italy without saying which vote or when it is due.
- Zakharova's claim that Western elites sometimes "simply kidnap presidents". Reported only by Interfax; she named no country or case.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports Zakharova's statement that Moscow does not interfere in other states' elections. [ 1 ]
- Interfax publishes Zakharova's response to the Italian foreign minister's remarks. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti reports her reply, naming Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti reports Zakharova's comments that no European election passes without accusations against Russia. [ 4 ]