Russia Rejects Canada’s Comments on State Duma Elections, Citing National Sovereignty

Dragon Media News Desk

Russia has rejected Canadian criticism of its recent State Duma elections, asserting that the country’s electoral process is a matter for Russian citizens to determine without foreign interference.

In comments to the TASS news agency on September 21, Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov responded to a statement by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand concerning the parliamentary elections.

Stepanov described the Canadian minister’s remarks as difficult to take seriously and questioned the assumption that her views would carry particular significance for the Russian public.

“Elections in Russia are a matter for Russian citizens to decide,” the ambassador stated.

He urged the Canadian government to concentrate on issues affecting Canadians and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign states.

Anand had raised concerns about the conduct of Russia’s parliamentary elections, including the treatment of political opposition, independent media and civil society. Canada also rejected voting conducted in Russian-controlled Ukrainian territories, maintaining that those areas remain part of Ukraine under internationally recognised borders.

Moscow, meanwhile, has consistently presented its parliamentary elections as an exercise of national sovereignty and rejected foreign criticism of its electoral processes.

The exchange highlights continuing disagreements between Russia and Canada over electoral legitimacy, sovereignty and the status of Russian-controlled Ukrainian territories.