Duma commission registers over 200 attempts to disrupt regional elections in Russia

MOSCOW, September 20. /TASS/. The State Duma Commission on Investigating Foreign Interference in Russia's Internal Affairs has detected more than 200 foreign disinformation campaigns aimed at influencing regional elections, including in Bashkiria, Tatarstan, and Dagestan, commission chairman Vasily Piskarev reported.

"The commission recorded over 200 information-related incidents linked to attempts by foreign centers of influence to exert a negative informational impact on election campaigns ahead of the unified voting day in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Hostile actors directed the most intense negative information activity at the populations of the republics and the new constituent entities of the Russian Federation--for example, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Karelia, Crimea, and Tatarstan," Piskarev told the Central Election Commission's information center.

According to him, orchestrators focused primarily on shaping a negative information agenda in Russian regions regarding the special military operation, the country's socio-economic situation, and migration.

"They attempted to influence public opinion through large-scale disinformation campaigns, including by leveraging the capabilities of foreign agents and so-called media in exile," the politician added.