The publications of the United States Embassy in Moscow about uncoordinated actions in Russia are pure interference in the internal affairs of Russia. This was stated on Saturday, January 23, by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.
“Look now, the American embassy (publishes information – Ed.). This is pure interference in internal affairs, ”she said on the YouTube channel Soloviev LIVE.
Earlier on the same day, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused the US embassy of interfering in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation and encouraging protests within the country. The American authorities were also advised to tackle their own problems, including overcoming a deep division in American society.
The day before, the US Embassy in Moscow published the places and times of uncoordinated actions in Russian cities on January 23, urging Americans to avoid such events.
On Saturday, Zakharova said that her American colleagues would have to explain themselves at the Russian Foreign Ministry.
In addition, Alexander Malkevich, First Deputy Chairman of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation Commission on Mass Media, stated that the unauthorized actions in Russia received organizational and financial support from abroad.
Uncoordinated actions took place on 23 January in different cities of Russia. Several dozen people were detained in Moscow and St. Petersburg. It is known that there are children among the detainees. Previously, the authorities have repeatedly reminded that the involvement of minors in riots is punishable by law. According to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow, about 4 thousand people gathered for an unauthorized event on Pushkin Square in the capital, including children. Previously, the authorities have repeatedly reminded that the involvement of minors in riots is punishable by law.
On the eve of the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on the involvement of minors in illegal actions on the facts of calls to participate in protest actions.
On January 21, the hashtag #ChildrenVnePolitiki was launched on the Internet in order to ensure the safety of minors in connection with calls for unauthorized actions. The day before, on January 20, a massive spread of calls to participate in rallies on social networks was recorded. Moreover, the addressees of distribution were minors with an emphasis on children aged 12-14 years.
Children’s Ombudsman Anna Kuznetsova reported on January 23 that minors in a number of regions came to unauthorized rallies rather out of curiosity, as spectators.
In addition, a video is gaining popularity on social networks, in which a 12-year-old child tells why he came to an unauthorized rally. When asked by a journalist about his claims to the current government, the child replied that there were none and he “just came to see”.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia said that they would investigate and give a legal assessment of the facts of provocations or disobedience to the demands of law enforcement officials at unauthorized rallies on January 23.