MOSCOW, March 17. /TASS/. Moscow’s Western opponents have failed to undermine the Russian presidential election abroad, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov, who serves as chairman of the ministry’s commission on elections, said.
"We have yet to complete the voting process," he noted at a briefing hosted by the Central Election Commission. "Given the time difference, our last overseas polling stations will close at 5:00 a.m. Moscow time but it’s already safe to say that our opponents have failed to undermine the Russian presidential election for our fellow citizens abroad and discourage them from exercising their constitutional right to choose the path forward for our country," Ivanov added.
All provocations during overseas voting were curbed, the diplomat pointed out. "There were bomb threats. Thanks to the effective actions of security services at our overseas facilities, in coordination with law enforcement agencies from the relevant countries, all these incidents were promptly addressed and the electoral process went on," the Russian deputy foreign minister said.
"The level of mobilization that we see today makes it clear that despite all the attempts to stop us, despite the war and the highly toxic information environment in the Western media, our fellow citizens believe that it’s necessary to demonstrate their allegiance to the country," Ivanov stressed. "They aren’t ashamed of being Russian even in the capitals that are deeply unfriendly to our country. They are politically active; they understand how important it is to take part in the election in the current situation and they trust the Russian election system," he concluded.