The Russian government has accused the United States and the United Kingdom of attempting to damage its relationship with Nigeria by falsely associating Russia with the August 1 hunger protest in the country.
This was stated in a letter from the Russian government to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed by Yury Paramonov, Press Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Nigeria.
The protest saw demonstrators waving Russian flags and chanting slogans, sparking accusations that Russia was involved in stirring unrest, a claim that Russia vehemently denies. Russia has also faced similar accusations regarding its alleged involvement in political unrest in West African countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, fueling concerns of external interference in regional matters.
Paramonov insisted that the accusations, notably from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former British Council Director David Roberts, and Ukrainian Ambassador Ivan Kholostenko, are baseless.
He reiterated Russia’s respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty, emphasizing that Russia has never been involved in the protests and remains committed to non-interference in the affairs of other nations.
The Russian government also conveyed President Vladimir Putin’s congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Nigeria’s National Day and expressed hope for continued cooperation and strengthened relations between the two nations.
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