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Number of foreign agents trying to affect Russian elections grew by 2.7 times — official

Igor Borisov noted that the West exerts pressure and looks for new ways to do that

MOSCOW, July 22. /TASS/. The number of nonprofit organizations and associations that receive funding from abroad and seek to influence the ongoing State Duma electoral campaign has increased by 2.7 times compared to the 2016 campaign, Central Electoral Commission member Igor Borisov said Thursday.

"There were 53 such associations, organizations, fed by the West to participate in our political processes in 2016, while there are 145 now. That is a 2.7 times increase during this period," Borisov said during the Federation Council meeting.

He also compared the Ministry of Justice data on the number of non-government organizations (NGOs) acting as foreign agents.

"According to the Ministry of Justice, which maintains the registry of NGOs acting as foreign agents, there were 46 registered NGOs, while there are 77 now. There were zero media acting as foreign agents in 2016, while there are 28 now (15 organizations and 13 people). There were 7 undesirable organizations that operated on Western sponsors’ money and directed that money in participation in Russian politics, while today there are 40 organizations that seek to influence the political electoral process," the official said.

He noted that the West exerts pressure and looks for new ways to do that.

"We are ready to deflect these attacks, but we must speak about them out loud. Because actions against us are being carried out covertly. The foreign agents seek not to register but play political games while receiving money from abroad," Borisov concluded.

On June 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order scheduling the State Duma elections for September 19, 2021. The elections will span over three days - September 17, 18 and 19. Election Day voting will also include races among nine governors and 39 regional parliaments.

Senior Russian diplomat, Libyan general discuss ensuring Libya’s sovereignty

"During a thorough exchange of views on the settlement of the military-political crisis in Libya, the focus was on the task of uniting all patriotic political and religious forces in the interests of ensuring the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Libyan state," the ministry said

US sees no signs indicating Russia’s plans to use nuclear weapons — Pentagon

Department of Defense spokesperson Sabrina Singh said that the United States views the decision to hold a military exercise of this kind as "deeply irresponsible"

UN chief to send letter to Putin in connection with inauguration — spokesman

"A letter will be sent by the secretary general as he does whenever new head of state is inaugurated or reinaugurated," Stephane Dujarric said

Australian Navy’s destroyer, helicopter impede Chinese drills in Yellow Sea — top brass

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Dutch MEP congratulates Putin on his inauguration

"Congratulations president Putin and congratulations people of Russia with your president," Marcel de Graaff from the Dutch party Forum for Democracy said

Turkish expert says Putin's inauguration speech echoes what he said in Munich years ago

Aydin Sezer recalled that during the Munich Security Conference back in 2007 "Putin said that the unipolar world had no future and a multipolar world order was needed"

Belarus won’t succumb to provocations or go to war with anyone — president

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Russia to become technologically independent in key areas — decree

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An Iskander missile system battalion and a squadron of Su-25 airplanes are being brought to readiness to perform planned missions

Russian Interior Ministry declares ex-Ukrainian army chief wanted

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Russia to join ranks of top four global economies — presidential decree

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Aurus Merlon electric motorcycle available for pre-order — acting Deputy PM

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UK ambassador leaves Russian MFA after being summoned

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NATO wants 'hot war' with Russia which may destroy US, Carlson says

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Belarus to respond instantly to any military aggression, says Lukashenko

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet and 23 unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day

Advertising campaign launched in Ukraine to enroll volunteers into army

Ukrainians are expected to more actively sign up for "more prestigious and possibly better equipped units"

Sweden approves Quran-burning rally ahead of Eurovision Song Contest

In Malmo, two pro-Palestinian demonstrations are planned for May 9 and 11

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Dmitry Peskov recalled that after the inauguration, the Russian government resigned and the members of the Cabinet continued to work in the status of acting ministers

Russia hands over last RD-180 rocket engines to US under existing deal

The United States has received 122 RD-180 rocket engines over more than 20 years of cooperation

Xi Jinping arrives in Serbia on his first visit in eight years

Chinese President began his visit on the day marking the anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade by NATO aircraft

France not at war with Russia — Macron

"We are also not seeking a change of power in Russia," the French leader underscored

Russia engages TOS-2 flamethrowers in Ukraine

220mm TOS-2 is a successor to TOS-1A with improved characteristics

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian missile solid propellant workshop over past day

Russian troops gained better positions in the south Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported

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Nikolay Patrushev believes that Russia "resolutely and consistently defends its cultural sovereignty, history and Russian moral ideals that unite the multinational country"

Senior Russian diplomat, Libyan general discuss ensuring Libya’s sovereignty

"During a thorough exchange of views on the settlement of the military-political crisis in Libya, the focus was on the task of uniting all patriotic political and religious forces in the interests of ensuring the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Libyan state," the ministry said

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Maria Zakharova described British Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s remark that London considered it legitimate for the Kiev regime to use British weapons for strikes on Russian territory as "something absolutely insane"

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace eight times in past day

Apart from that, two shelling attacks on positions of Syrian government troops by militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic Party of Turkestan groups (both outlawed in Russia) were reported in the Idlib de-escalation zone

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Russian Foreign Ministry’s mission in Vladivostok that "not following the case of the US citizen closely"

US accuses Russian Khoroshev of creating LockBit cyber-crime gang — Department of State

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"In particular, there was no evidence of deliberate actions on behalf of the above-mentioned individual," Business Insider wrote

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Russia signals unfriendly countries by inviting ambassadors to inauguration — diplomat

"We assumed that some of them (ambassadors from unfriendly countries - TASS) would not come, which is what happened in the end," Sergey Ryabkov pointed out

FACTBOX: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s biography

Since June 12, 2013, Putin has been the leader of the non-governmental movement All-Russia People’s Front, created at his initiative as a coalition of social and political forces

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Putin signs decree setting Russia’s development goals for 2030

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Aleksandar Vucic greets Chinese leader at Belgrade Airport

The ceremony on the occasion of the visit of the 400-strong Chinese delegation will take place at Palata Srbije

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Russia values Qatar, Egypt’s mediatory efforts on Gaza — senior diplomat

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Emergency Ministry employee detained in Kherson Region over collaboration with Ukraine

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Putin says Russia had to use force to defend people in Donbass as peaceful means failed

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Five workers wounded during Ukrainian strike on oil storage facility in Lugansk

Leonid Pasechnik also said the strike "damaged power lines, disrupting electricity supplies to nearby houses"

Russian sniper reports elimination of Ukrainian serviceman wearing helmet with SS emblem

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Putin made the first trip on the Aurus exactly six years ago, on May 7, 2018, when he also departed to the inauguration

Putin directs to scale up revenues of small technology companies

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SBU claims it prevented plot to kill Ukrainian president

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FSB declassifies Hitler aide’s testimony how Red Army rescued Allies in Ardennes in 1945

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Russian embassy slams ‘unacceptable’ Berlin’s decision to ban Russian flag on May 8-9

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Appeal for Western troops posted on Ukrainian president’s website

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Macron denies death of French troops in Ukraine out of fear of protests — SVR head

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Putin formally takes office as Russian president for six-year term

After being sworn in, the head of state delivered a speech

Serbian government adopts several documents on cooperation with China

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Putin’s inauguration kicks off in Kremlin

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Russian government resigns

The cabinet will continue to carry out its duties until a new government is appointed

US envoy leaves Russia for certain amount of time — senior Russian diplomat

"The Foreign Ministry was told about this some time before the issue with inviting ambassadors to the inauguration ceremony of the Russian president was resolved," Sergey Ryabkov said

Tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus intended for defense, says Lukashenko

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Medvedev gives warning amid talk of deploying Western troops to Ukraine

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UNSC to hold Russia-requested closed-door meeting on Middle East on May 9

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Tehran's talks with IAEA chief constructive, Iranian energy head says

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Indonesia making every effort to launch direct flights to Russia — Ambassador

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French Foreign Ministry denies France sent troops to Ukraine

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