MOSCOW, December 21. /TASS/. Attempts from outside to exert pressure on the Russian public opinion ahead of the March 2018 presidential election stand out a mile, but they will bring no fruit as Russians make the choice themselves, First Deputy Chief of the Russian Presidential Administration Sergey Kiriyenko said on Thursday.

"Have there been any attempts to somehow influence and meddle and attempt to exert pressure on the public opinion ahead of the upcoming election campaign? This stands out a mile. Will this pressure affect people in the country? I’m sure that it won’t, I’m sure that Russian citizens make the choice themselves and no one will be able to interfere and exert pressure," Kiriyenko said.

Kiriyenko, who formerly led the Rosatom state nuclear corporation, recalled the remark of President Vladimir Putin that few people need a strong Russia besides Russians themselves and many people dislike it when Russia gains strength.

"It is important that all people should have a chance … to choose themselves the country’s future, their own future and the future of their family," Kiriyenko said, noting that the Russian Central Election Commission is making every effort for that.