MOSCOW, March 6. /TASS/. The Bolivian interim government’s allegations of Moscow’s involvement in illegal processes taking place in the country are groundless, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Friday.
The diplomat pointed to the complicated situation in Bolivia ahead of the May 3 presidential and parliamentary elections. "We can see that preparations [for the elections — TASS] have turned into an open — and sometimes behind-the-scenes — struggle between various political forces, which particularly concerns the registration of candidates. Meanwhile, some media say that there was no legal reason behind events that triggered political instability in Bolivia, which followed reports about irregularities and tampering with the election held on October 20, 2019," Zakharova added.
When speaking about allegations concerning Russia, she said: "We read these statements with regret because they are groundless and sometimes even false, as they refer to some Russian mafia allegedly involved in illegal processes in Bolivia." "The Bolivian interim government has failed to provide evidence of illegal actions either by the Russian authorities or any Russian nationals. The Russian embassy has received no requests from the Bolivian authorities, and no information has been obtained through other channels," the Russian diplomat noted.
"If these are deliberate attempts to set us and the Bolivian people against each other, I would like to point out that they will fail," Zakharova emphasized.
Political turbulence in Bolivia
- Bolivia's electoral body blocks Morales from running for Senate
- Bolivia's interim president asks all ministers to resign
- Bolivia’s Morales calls party meeting to talk presidential election candidate
- Bolivian authorities say Morales will be arrested upon crossing border
- Russian diplomat compares developments in Bolivia to Ukrainian events
- Bolivian authorities revoke law granting immunity to military who used force in protests
- Bolivia appoints ambassador to US for first time since 2008
- Bolivia’s interim president signs law on new presidential elections
- Bolivia’s parliament approves bill on snap presidential election
- Morales dismisses allegations that 'Russian soldiers' are waiting for him in Bolivia
- Evo Morales' daughter refuses to leave Bolivia and go to Mexico — interim authorities
- Morales describes new Bolivian government’s crackdown on protests as ‘genocide’
- Ex-President Morales warns that Bolivian crisis can spiral into civil war
- 23 people killed in Bolivia since political crisis began - human rights commission
- Bolivia’s interim government must avoid outside interference - Russia’s top senator
- Morales calls on security forces to stop violence in Bolivia
- Bolivia announces severing diplomatic relations with Venezuela
- Bolivian businesses sustain $1.1 billion in losses over political crisis
- Morales confirms he is ready to return to Bolivia soon
- Russia to regard Anez as Bolivia’s leader until election — deputy foreign minister
- US recognizes Anez as interim president of Bolivia — official
- Seven people killed in Bolivian protests — newspaper
- Opposition in Mexico is against granting asylum to Bolivia's Morales — media
- Plane carrying Bolivia’s former President Morales lands in Mexico City — TV
- Bolivia unrest not Moscow’s fault? Lavrov wonders where all ‘Russia’ accusations have gone
- US will benefit from Mexico’s asylum for Bolivian leader, says expert
- Bolivian defense minister steps down amid protests
- Maduro blames Washington for bankrolling Bolivian coup d’etat
- Evo Morales says he is leaving Bolivia for Mexico
A presidential election was held in Bolivia on October 20, 2019. The country's Supreme Electoral Court declared that incumbent President Evo Morales had won the vote. His main rival, former President Carlos Mesa, refused to recognize Morales' victory. After the results of the election had been announced, protests and strikes erupted across the country. Morales eventually stepped down, describing the situation as a coup. The second vice president of Bolivia’s Senate, Jeanine Anez, declared herself interim president.