MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s threats about consequences for the Russian political leadership will not stop the presidential election from being held in all Russian regions, Vasily Piskarev, chair of the State Duma’s Commission on Investigation into Foreign Interference in Russia’s Internal Affairs, opined.
Earlier, Borrell condemned the fact that Crimea and the new Russian regions would vote in the presidential election on March 15-17, 2024 and promised to never recognize its results. The EU External Action Service said in a statement that voting for Russia’s president in those regions will "grossly violate the UN Charter and Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," while "Russia’s political leadership and those involved in organizing them will face consequences for these illegal actions."
"EU High Representative Josep Borrell was the first European official to engage in a campaign of threats regarding the upcoming presidential election in Russia," Piskarev said, quoted on the commission’s Telegram channel.
"However, he has deeply miscalculated. We will do everything necessary to ensure that the election is held throughout Russia and that people will make a free and unimpeded choice, while the provocateurs, who are now being trained, including with EU money, will not be able to hamper it," he added.
The lawmaker pointed out that EU officials "strongly dislike the fact that the election will take place in Crimea and in the four new regions of the Russian Federation." That is why Borrell "made threats against the Russian leadership."
"In this case, not only does Mr. Borrell, who spares no effort to paint himself as a steadfast defender of human rights, meddle in our country’s internal affairs, but also tries to deny our citizens the right to choose the government to which they can entrust their future," he said.