Zakharova disinforms about the European elections: They were not fair

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova disinforms about the allegedly unfair atmosphere during the European Parliament elections. She stated that political forces opposed to confrontation with Russia were subjected to discrimination, pressure and harassment.

What Zakharova said:

“During the European Parliament elections, strict conditions were observed which did not allow for fair competition. The information field was ‘cleansed’ of alternative sources of information and the anti-Russian campaign was unbridled. Political forces opposed to confrontation with Russia were discriminated against, pressured and harassed. In a significant number of EU Member States, the vote took on a distinctly protest character, both because of the support of opposition parties and because of the very low turnout,” said Zaharova.

Analysis:

Zakharova’s misinformation about the European Parliament elections and her claims, which are part of wider Russian propaganda, are aimed at destabilising the European institutions. Her claims about severe restrictions and the absence of fair competition are not backed up by concrete evidence. European elections are renowned for their transparency and high democratic standards.

The European Union implements strict monitoring mechanisms to ensure fair and free elections. Organisations such as the OSCE and various NGOs regularly monitor EU elections to ensure impartiality and fair procedures. In addition, the EU is known for its openness and media pluralism, which allows different political views to be expressed freely.

Maria Zakharova uses well-known disinformation tactics to undermine the credibility of the European Union and its democratic processes. Her claims of unfair elections are unfounded and part of a wider campaign by Moscow to destabilise and discredit Western institutions. The elections to the European Parliament were conducted in accordance with the highest democratic standards, despite attempts by Russian officials to paint a different picture./The Geopost/