Russian President Vladimir
Putin on Thursday denied an American Senator's claim Moscow was
set to interfere in Italy's March 4 general election.
Denying Ben Cardin's claims, Putin said "we have good
relations with Italy and for us this relationship with the
Italian State is important, it would make no sense to ruin it".
He described Cardin's claims as "provocations made on purpose
to destroy the ties between our two countries".
Putin stressed that "we have good relations both with
political parties and with Italian secret services, with which
we have discussed cooperating in digital security."
Putin concluded "I, for example, have excellent personal
relations with (centre-right leader) Silvio Berlusconi and
(former centre-left leader) Romano Prodi, who are opponents in
the political arena".
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova on
Wednesday called Cardin "a liar".
Speaking to ANSA, she said "it's up to the Italians who to
elect as their leaders".
Cardin's staff said in a report that "with elections coming
in 2018, Italy could be a target for the Kremlin's electoral
meddling, which will probably try to boost parties contrary to
the renewal of EU sanctions on Russia."
The report cited the 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the League as
"populist, anti-establishment parties" Moscow might want to push
its interests by helping.
Both parties, the report said, 2are strong supporters of the
Kremlin's foreign policy and have widely used fake news and
conspiracy theories in their media campaigns, often orchestrated
by Russian state media".
It also cited "some observers' suspicions" that the League
had obtained funding from Russian secret services.
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