By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia’s prime minister Vladimir Putin has warned the western powers against meddling in Russia’s forthcoming elections after agreeing to stand for president in March 2012.
Addressing a glitzy congress of the ruling United Russia party Sunday, Putin said any attempts by “foreign states” to influence Russia’s political process would be “futile”.
Russia will hold a crucial parliamentary vote next week, followed by presidential elections in March next year.
“Representatives of some foreign states” were paying politically-active NGOs in Russia to “influence the course of the election campaign in our country,” Putin said to a roar of approval and applause.
“It would be better if they used this money to pay off their national debt and stop conducting an ineffective and costly foreign policy,” he added in a clear reference to the debt-ridden US.