Russia’s SVR Foreign Intelligence Service has leveled serious accusations against the United States. The claim is that the Biden administration and the intelligence community deep state are attempting to interfere in Russia’s upcoming presidential election, particularly through cyber tactics aimed at its online voting system.

President Vladimir Putin is expected to cruise to victory in the Russian election set for March 15-17. He has preemptively described any external meddling in Russia’s electoral process as a “clear act of aggression.” 

The SVR’s statement pointed fingers at the Biden administration, alleging a concerted effort to lower election turnout. “According to information received by the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation, the administration of J. Biden is setting a task for American NGOs to achieve a decrease in turnout,” reported state media, echoing the SVR’s claims.

Russia's Spy Service Accuses US of Trying to Meddle in Presidential Election

President Vladimir Putin's foreign intelligence service accused the United States of trying to meddle in Russia's presidential election on Monday.

They said that Washington even had plans to launch a… pic.twitter.com/eifRWt2hCp

— ❣️Anne❣️ (@USA_Anne711) March 11, 2024

Moreover, the accusation extends to planned cyber assaults on Russia’s remote electronic voting system, purportedly involving leading American IT specialists. The SVR contends that such an attack could significantly hinder Russian vote tallying. Yet, it’s crucial to note the absence of concrete evidence backing these allegations. The Biden administration has not yet made any public statements in response to the Russian allegations.

The narrative from the Kremlin comes as the West, primarily the United States, has long criticized Putin’s reign at the top of the Russian regime and aggressive foreign policy that undermines international stability. The Putin administration has been working in the court of international public opinion to clear the air regarding its own actions. It has made great efforts to publicly claim that it has no intention to interfere in this year’s U.S. general election in November. Those claims are part of the Russian narrative that seeks to deflect criticism and the legitimate allegations of its electoral interference.

Russia’s latest allegations are part of a history of mutual accusations of electoral interference. The U.S. intelligence community has actively concocted claims based on fabricated evidence that Moscow played a role in influencing the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections. What’s clear is that these latest accusations from Russia’s intelligence service add another layer of complexity to an already strained U.S.-Russia relationship.