Hunger protests: Russia accuses US, UK of meddling in Nigeria’s internal affairs

The Russian government has distanced itself from allegations linking it to recent hunger protest in Nigeria.

The government said claims linking it to the protest were coordinated media campaigns by Western and Ukrainian officials in attempts to meddle in Nigeria’s internal affairs and “shift the blame for any consequences onto the Russian Federation.”

Russia in a letter to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs which was shared on Friday by the official Press Secretary of the Russian embassy in Nigeria, Yury Paramonov, faulted statements it credited to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Director of the British Council in Nigeria David Roberts, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria, Ivan Kholostenko suggesting that the use of Russian flags during recent protests is evidence of Russia’s interference.

Recall some protesters during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest in August were seen waving the Russian flag while chanting slogans, a development that has since generated controversies.

Russia has recently been accused of involvement in recent political upheavals in some West African countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The countries which recently experienced military coups had cut off ties with former colonial master, France, while establishing new ties with Russia, a development which has generated some concerns.

Russia in reaction to the recent allegation on the Nigerian protest claimed that the United States, Britain and Ukraine were linking it with the protests to destroy the cordial relationship between it and Nigeria, advising the Federal government to ignore the claims.

“In particular, statements by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Director of the British Council in Nigeria David Roberts, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria Ivan Kholostenko have shamelessly and baselessly suggested that the use of Russian flags during recent protests is evidence of Russia’s interference and have further warned that this could happen again in the future.

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap