All news

Clinton's statement political, opportunistic - view

Chairman of the Russian Public Institute of Election Law Igor Borisov called the statement by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "opportunistic and purely political

MOSCOW, December 6 (Itar-Tass) — Chairman of the Russian Public Institute of Election Law Igor Borisov called the statement by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "opportunistic and purely political." "Such opinions coming from the politician who did not take part in monitoring the election "are driving a wedge between our peoples and countries," he said.

Borisov, who supervised the international sector as a member of the previous Central Election Commission, and is an acknowledge experts in international monitoring, confirmed that the reports by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - which observed Russia’s parliamentary elections - do not contain this kind of evaluations voiced by Mrs Clinton. It seems they see it better from the States," he noted.

The expert said he fully agreed with the advice for the U.S. secretary of state given by senior officials at the Russian Election Commission. "Mrs Clinton should pay attention to U.S. elections which take place amidst numerous violations," he underlined.

During her speech in Vilnius at a meeting of the OSCE foreign ministers on Tuesday, Clinton severely criticized the election to Russia's 6th State Duma: "Russian voters deserve a full investigation of electoral fraud and manipulation. The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve the right to have their voices heard and their votes counted. And that means they deserve free, fair, transparent elections and leaders who are accountable to them."

Head of the committee for international affairs under the 5th State Duma Konstantin Kosachev (United Russia faction) warned about Moscow's tough response in case the USA takes actions following Clinton's statement on the Russian election.

"This statement is not helpful in improving the atmosphere of our relations," said Kosachev, who was elected to the 6th State Duma," I'm hoping the U.S. authorities will not draw any practical conclusions from the present odd statement by Mrs Clinton; it would be an impossible development."

"So we take note (of it); it is far from being the brightest page, it's even one of the darkest pages in the history of Russian-U.S. relations of the recent years; in our joint work in the "resetting" mode. But if this statement remains just a statement; hopefully, we'll avoid negative consequences.

"If there are initiatives on the part of the U.S. side, say with direct support of those who Clinton says belong to the Democrats, our response will be tough and consistent. Our after-election situation is our situation, and only we, the Russian citizens, can determine the parameters of holding election and eventually, give opinions about them," Kosachev said.