MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that attempts at external interference in Russia’s elections next autumn will be regarded as a direct threat to Russian sovereignty, adding that an adequate response will follow.

"State Duma elections are due next autumn. All constructive political forces and parties wish the elections to be held in full conformity with the law, in a climate of fair and open competition, and their results to be impartial and reflect the real opinions and sentiment of our country’s citizens," Putin told a board meeting of Russia’s federal security service FSB (former KGB) on Friday.

He formulated the task set to the FSB in the following way: "It is essential to take every step to quash the activity of those who try or may try to use nationalist xenophobic and radical slogans aimed at splitting our society."

"It goes without saying that any attempts at external intervention in the elections and our internal political life must be upset," Putin said.

He pointed out that "such technologies do exist and have been used more than once in a number of countries."

"This is a direct threat to our sovereignty and we will respond to it in the proper way," Putin said.