Russian Foreign Minister Accuses EU of Training Special Observers for Secret Monitoring in Russia’s Upcoming Election

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the European Union of secretly training special observers to monitor the upcoming Russian State Duma elections. He cited the 2004 Ukraine and 2025 Romania elections as examples of Western interference. The elections for the ninth convocation of the State Duma are scheduled to take place from September 18 to 20, 2026. (September 23, Kathmandu)

In an interview with the online project “Sama Mensova,” Lavrov stated, “According to the information we have received, the European Union has started training some special observers to secretly monitor how our elections are conducted.” He added, “These observers should first look at themselves. In 2004, the West forced a third round of voting in Ukraine, even though no provision existed for a third round. There was also pressure on Ukraine’s Constitutional Court.”

Lavrov also referred to the elections held in Romania in 2025. “In the first round, no observer reported any irregularities, but instead of complying with Brussels’ orders, a candidate who clearly prioritized national interests won. That candidate was effectively pushed out of the race, and that was the end of it,” he explained.