By Xinhua
Moscow : Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday urged the state security service to heighten alert for foreign attempts to meddle in the presidential poll in March.
Addressing members of Russia’s Federal Security Service, Putin said it was necessary to strengthen the work to obtain timely information about attempts to interfere with Russia’s internal affairs and this was particularly necessary during the period of the elections for the presidency of Russian Federation.
“Our country is a sovereign state and we will not allow the conduct of the election campaign to be corrected by anyone from outside,” said the president.
He added that the task of all state structures is to guarantee the democratic character of the elections and social-political stability to enable Russian citizens to make a free and deliberate choice.
Russia’s presidential poll is slated for March 2, and Putin has said First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was the “best choice” among candidates for the country’s top job after he steps down.