Russia denies meddling in European Parliament elections

A senior Russian security official has dismissed as “completely absurd” accusations that Moscow meddled in European Parliament elections last month.

“Statements made in the Western media that Russia was allegedly deeply interested in the victory of right-wing parties during elections to the European Parliament are completely absurd,” Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Alexander Venediktov said in an interview with the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper on Sunday.

“Let me remind you that, until today, no convincing evidence has been presented to the global community to prove that Moscow allegedly tried to influence the elections in the United States or in Europe,” Venediktov said, also referring to the allegation that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election in the US.

On Friday, the European Union published a report about the parliamentary elections last month, saying it had proof that Russian sources had used online disinformation techniques, including the creation of fake social media accounts, to try to sway voters toward right-wing parties.

The EU report called on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to do more to protect elections from foreign meddling.

The report is the latest in a string of allegations from Western governments that Russian sources aim to suppress turnout and influence voter preferences. Moscow has repeatedly denied those accusations.

An investigation by a special counsel in the US has also failed to make any conclusive observations. A report prepared by that counsel has been heavily redacted.

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