Russia says it won’t seek to influence German election

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismisses speculation that Moscow would attempt to meddle in Germany’s upcoming general election.

Speaking to a think tank in Berlin, Lavrov says the Russian government was “flattered” that many international intelligence services thought it had the power to influence the fate of democratic governments but repeated Moscow’s insistent denial.

President Vladimir Putin told Russian reporters last month that hackers can come from any country and conceded it was theoretically possible that a “patriotically minded” hacker could decide to act against those critical of Russia. He insisted however that “we never get involved in this on a state level.”

Asked about the remarks with regard to Germany’s election in September, in which Chancellor Angela Merkel is seeking a fourth term, Lavrov demurrs.

“It flatters us that people try to portray us as a country that could decide the fate of the whole world — the United States, Germany,” he says. “If that were the case, all the former Soviet republics around us would not have such a position toward Moscow.”

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov holds a press conference with his French counterpart following their talks on Ukraine and Syria, at the Foreign Ministry in Paris, July 6, 2017. (AFP/Eric FEFERBERG)

— AFP