Vasily Piskarev: Joint Work with the CSTO PA on Electoral Security Reaches a New Level

 

On September 10, the Information and Reference Centre of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) discussed electoral interference.

Meeting participants emphasized the fact that warfare is currently most active in the information space, where external cyberattacks, disinformation and fake news attack online resources, objective media and CEC websites.

Vasily Piskarev, Chairman of the State Duma Commission for Investigation of Foreign Interference in the Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, reported on numerous attempts to interference with elections in Russia and specific measures to stop them.

“The topic concerning interference in our elections by the collective West is more relevant than ever. Western countries are purposefully discrediting Russian elections and trying to form a negative attitude towards them among Russian youth,” Vasily Piskarev told the CSTO PA press service in a commentary.

He noted that while monitoring interference in the Russian elections by Western countries, it was revealed that special workshops were held abroad to train provocateurs planning to cause disturbances at polling stations in Russia and promptly transmit provocative information to foreign media.

“We sent to the CEC the materials collected in the process of monitoring, and the provocations were stopped,” Mr Piskarev noted.

The Duma deputy stressed that any attempts to discredit the Russian electoral system should be stopped in a timely manner.

“It is very important that our citizens form the attitude to the electoral process without foreign cues. We have revealed, for example, that foreign agents in large numbers indoctrinate children 12 years old and older, specifically targeting the vulnerable audience,” the parliamentarian said.

The politician also said that certain comments by officials of the European structures constituted a gross interference in Russia’s internal affairs, for instance the words of the Lead Spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, Peter Stano, who called the holding of elections in new Russian regions an alleged violation of international law.

Vasily Piskarev also said that the Commission had identified a large-scale network of “mass media and organizations engaged in subversive activities against Russia,” which includes both well-known and newly created media projects.

The parliamentarian recalled that the Duma Commission participated in the development and adoption of about 30 laws to protect Russia’s sovereignty and prevent external interference.

“Our reaction should be adequate and timely. There is a lot of work, but we have strong capabilities to stop attempts of foreign interference. We are also interested in continuing cooperation with our colleagues in the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, we regularly discuss problems of electoral security at joint meetings. At the recent CSTO exercises in Belarus, it was noted that our proposals formed the basis of the draft Concept of the National Security Strategy of the Republic of Belarus. And now there are new opportunities to continue our cooperation,” said Vasily Piskarev.

As you may recall, in 2023 election campaigns of various levels were held in 85 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. For the first time, election campaigns were held in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.