Russia has issued a stern warning to Nigeria, accusing the United States and the United Kingdom of attempting to interfere in the country’s internal affairs and sabotage its bilateral relations with Russia. This warning comes on the heels of the Russian Embassy in Nigeria denying any involvement in the October 1st hunger protest that rocked the country.
In a letter addressed to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia’s official Press Secretary, Yury Paramonov, emphasized that Russia respects Nigeria’s sovereignty and adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. However, Russia has accused Western countries, particularly the US, UK, and Ukraine, of spreading baseless accusations about its involvement in the protests.
The Russian Embassy cited 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 as examples of unfounded claims. These statements allegedly suggested that the use of Russian flags during recent protests was evidence of Russia’s interference.
Russia has consistently denied any involvement in the protests, with the Embassy stating, “The Russian Federation neither had any involvement in the protests that occurred in the recent past, nor does it have any connection to any potential future demonstrations or unrest.” Russia has always respected Nigeria’s sovereignty and adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs.
This development comes amidst concerns about Russian interference in African countries, with reports indicating that Russia has used various methods to undercut democracy in Africa, including disinformation and electoral interference ¹. The UK has also condemned Russia’s sustained attempts at political interference globally.
