Russia's Lavrov says European leaders interfered in U.S. election campaign

Record ID: 164738

  • Title: Russia's Lavrov says European leaders interfered in U.S. election campaign
  • Date: 18th January 2017
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JANUARY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE BY RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, AND AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AND OSCE CHAIRPERSON-IN-OFFICE, SEBASTIAN KURZ (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "Frankly speaking, we are beginning to get tired of talking about Russian involvement in the internal affairs of the U.S., especially in connection with the election campaign which has finished there by the nomination of President (Donald) Trump." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "But because these unfounded, unsubstantiated, I would say slanderous accusations continue to emerge I would like to say that the cynicism of the situation is that we are accused by those who had actively interfered in this election campaign themselves." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "A whole range of leaders of countries which are U.S. allies openly campaigned for Hillary Clinton. Angela Merkel was actively doing that as well as Francois Hollande, Theresa May and other leaders of European states. Moreover, besides direct campaigning for Hillary Clinton, official representatives of the European countries were not shy to demonise Donald Trump." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "Therefore maybe it is time to admit facts that not Russia but the U.S. allies brazenly interfered in the internal affairs of the U.S., in the election campaign, and many of them by the way even now cannot manage their feelings and calm down." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "Outbursts by representatives of Barack Obama's team against the president-elect sometimes look just hypocritical." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "You know, this is said by people who not only verbally were trying to teach other countries, including Europe. For example, Barack Obama personally campaigned against Brexit. This is said by people who interfere in the affairs of others through more than just harmless methods, using military force with the aim of changing regimes." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 1st February 2017 13:08
  • Keywords: Russia Sergei Lavrov U.S. Donald Trump Europe election
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015ZLZ807
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday (January 18) rejected accusations of Russian interference in the U.S. election campaign, calling them "unfounded, unsubstantiated" and "slanderous."
    Speaking at a news conference after talks with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz, Lavrov said leaders of European countries, including Angela Merkel, Theresa May and Francois Hollande had openly campaigned for Hillary Clinton.
    Lavrov said U.S. allied countries had worked to "demonise" President-elect Donald Trump.
    This came hours after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in his last major speech before leaving office, described Russia at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos as the biggest threat to the international liberal order and said Moscow would try to influence looming elections in Europe as it is accused of doing in the United States.
    Biden warned hundreds of leaders, CEOs and bankers gathered in a vast conference hall in the Swiss Alps resort town that Putin was likely to try to influence a series of elections in Europe this year.
    U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said on Tuesday (January 17) that Russia is engaging in aggressive and destabilising actions that are threatening the rules-based international order.
    Trump has said he will seek to improve relations with Moscow, despite criticism that he is too eager to make an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S intelligence reports that say Putin sought to influence the U.S. election in favour of Trump.
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