Putin’s remark on Harris spurs U.S. criticism over election interference

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments on U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris have triggered renewed calls from Washington for the Kremlin to cease its alleged interference in American elections.

Speaking at Russia’s Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Thursday, Putin expressed support for Harris, who is expected to be the Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race in July due to health concerns. “Firstly, Biden recommended all his supporters support Mrs. Harris,” Putin said, adding with a wry smile, “Here, we are going to do that too, we’re going to support her.”

Putin’s remark comes amidst fresh tensions between Washington and Moscow. The U.S. had announced indictments against Russian individuals for alleged interference in American elections, further straining diplomatic relations. Putin’s comments appeared to mock previous U.S. criticisms of Russian meddling, as he had previously labeled the U.S. political system as “rotten” and questioned American moral authority on democracy.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby responded to Putin’s remarks, urging the Russian leader to “stop interfering” in U.S. elections. “The only people who should get to determine who the next president of the United States is are the American people,” Kirby said. “We would greatly appreciate it if Mr. Putin would, a) stop talking about our election, and b) stop interfering in it.”

Putin’s comments were made a day after the U.S. indicted two employees of the Russian state-run news network RT and imposed sanctions on several top editors, including RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan. The sanctions and indictments were part of broader U.S. efforts to counter what it describes as ongoing Russian attempts to influence American electoral processes.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the U.S. accusations, labeling them as part of an “information campaign” aimed at influencing the final stages of the U.S. electoral cycle. Zakharova warned of a “harsh” response, adding that it would make “everyone shudder.”

Putin’s comments also touched on former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has previously praised the Russian leader and claimed he could end the Ukraine conflict swiftly if re-elected. Putin has expressed some support for Trump’s comments, describing them as serious and condemning the former president’s criminal convictions in the U.S. as “persecution.”