"During the public monitoring of the election campaign in all 85 [Russian] regions, we have to state that there is an attempt of a large-scale foreign interference in the Russian election," Maksim Grigoryev said.
According to Grigoryev, a person who was not officially registered by the watchdog was opening "fake election offices, hiring staff, organizing expensive events and trips."
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"I am saying fake because it was clear for everyone and for the candidate himself that a person with a criminal conviction cannot become a candidate," the Civic Chamber member said, referring to opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
"He is now de facto spreading propaganda, especially on social media, holding events in order to scare the Russian citizens away from the election. State and private media outlets of a number of countries and, above all, of the United States, are working toward the same goals," Grigoryev said.
The member of the Civic Chamber added that the projects of the non-candidate were sponsored by the governments of the United States and other Western countries.
READ MORE: Over 4.2Mln Russians to Vote Outside Permanent Residence — Election Commission
"In fact, 81 fake election offices constitutes an organized legal cover for a foreign tampering with the Russian election," Grigoryev concluded.
The Russians will go to poll this Sunday to choose from the following eight candidates: Sergey Baburin from the All-People's Union party, Communist Party candidate Pavel Grudinin, incumbent President Vladimir Putin, Civil Initiative party candidate Ksenia Sobchak, Communists of Russia party chairman Maxim Suraykin, Presidential Commissioner for Entrepreneurs’ Rights Boris Titov, co-founder of the Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinsky and head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
