Putin Accuses Hillary Clinton of Instigating Protesters in Russia

Vladimir Putin

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday accused U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton of inciting the Russian protesters in Moscow and Sankt Petersburg by calling the elections held on Sunday “dishonest and unfair.” Putin called this labeling as baseless and added that there was a need to protect the country against such interference from foreign governments.

Putin accused Clinton of having called the elections unfair and dishonest even before she had a chance to see and read the reports of the observers.

His remarks are expected to worsen the ties with the U.S. ally, thus rendering Obama administration’s efforts to reset these ties useless. Experts consider that by singling out Clinton in stead of making a general allegation, Putin practically places the United States on the side of those protesting in the streets of Russia.

Clinton made some very strong remarks about the elections in Russia, after a preliminary report was released by OSCE. She said that, like any other nation in the world, the Russians had the right to “have their voices heard and their vote  counted.”

Observers complained that there was no separation between the government and the Russia United, and that fair conditions for an election were not created.

The protests in Russia continued for a fourth day since the election and the leaders of the ruling party had to deploy many supporters to occupy the main squares and to chant in favor of the winning party.

Speaking about these protests, Putin said that the people were within their right to protest as long as they did not break any law. He added that the law needs toughening on those who take orders from foreign countries.

The remarks made by Hillary Clinton loomed over the meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, where Russia expressed its concern over the anti missile shield system NATO wants to deploy in Eastern Europe.