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Kremlin finds situation in Niger worrisome, urges prompt settlement

On July 26, the rebels announced on national television the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum, the closure of the republic's borders, a curfew, the suspension of the constitution, and a ban on the political parties’ activities

MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. The Kremlin is seriously concerned about the situation in Niger and urges a speedy restoration of law and order in that country, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media.

"We are monitoring it (the situation in Niger - TASS) very closely, especially in the context of the fact that over the past week we have actually been very closely involved in African affairs together with the Africans. Of course, what is happening there is of serious concern," Peskov said. He added that what was happening in Niger was of serious concern to all participants in the Russia-Africa summit held in St. Petersburg last week.

"We are in favor of the prompt restoration of the rule of law in the country. We are in favor of restraint on all sides, which would help avoid casualties. Of course, we want Niger to restore constitutional order as soon as possible and to continue to work for coping with the enormous tasks that face that country on the way of its development," Peskov pointed out.

He remarked that "in this case, the Kremlin's assessment of the situation in Niger and the words of the founder of the PMC Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, about what is happening in that country should not be put in the same semantic row."

On July 26, the rebels announced on national television the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum, the closure of the republic's borders, a curfew, the suspension of the constitution, and a ban on the political parties’ activities.

On July 28, they declared that General Abdurahmane Tchiani had become the head of state. During the coup, he led the presidential guard, whose units detained Bazoum and continue to keep him in custody.

On July 28, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, while commenting on Western media publications about the alleged involvement of Russian organizations in the events in Niger, told TASS that Moscow had nothing to do with them. He emphasized that Russia never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier described the rebels' actions as unconstitutional.

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