CSTO Parliaments Interested in Russia's Experience in Countering Interference in Internal Affairs

Vasily Piskarev, Chairman of the State Duma Commission on Investigation of Foreign State Interference in the Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, spoke at the Third Meeting of the Chairmen of the Committees and Commissions of the Parliaments of the CSTO Member States on international relations, defence, and security.

In his speech, he shared the legislative experience of Russian parliamentarians in protecting the country's sovereignty. 

Vasily Piskarev listed several key areas of foreign interference in Russia's affairs. According to the Chairman of the State Duma Commission, the targets of aggressive and destructive external influence include children and youth, people's health, economic and technological sovereignty, territorial integrity, electoral processes, as well as Russian history and spiritual and moral values.

In the context of Russia and Belarus entering the election cycle, Vasily Piskarev stressed that the Commission of the State Duma has materials indicating the use of similar forms and methods of foreign interference in the upcoming elections. In particular, the platforms of the same foreign non-governmental and international organizations are used to discredit the Russian and Belarusian electoral systems and put pressure on international observers. For example, that entails the OSCE's ODIHR and the German NGO "European Platform for Democratic Elections" (EPDE), which is undesirable in Russia.  

Within the envisaged practical interaction between the parliamentarians, these materials were handed over to Russia's Belarusian colleagues.

As you may recall, on December 5, 2022, the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly adopted Recommendations on Improving Legislation to Ensure Protection of Electoral Processes and Sovereignty in the CSTO Member States.