Protests: Western countries trying to destroy our relationship with Nigeria – Russia

The Russian Government has said that the United States and the United Kingdom were trying to destroy its relationship with Nigeria by linking the country with the August 1 hunger protest in Nigeria.

This was contained in a letter from the Russian Government to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the official Press Secretary of the Russian embassy in Nigeria, Yury Paramonov on Friday in Abuja.

Newspot recalls that some protesters were seen waving Russian flag and chanting slogans, while others held placards with various messages during the protest.

Russia has also been accused of involvement in recent political unrest in several West African countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

This has sparked concerns about external interference in regional affairs.

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However, Russia, a global power, alleged that the United States, Britain and Ukraine were linking it with the protests to destroy the cordial relationship between it and Nigeria, urged Nigerian government to ignore the accusation.

Paramonov said the Embassy had conveyed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of Nigeria’s National Day.

“In particular, statements by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Director of the British Council in Nigeria David Roberts, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria Ivan Kholostenko have shamelessly and baselessly suggested that the use of Russian flags during recent protests is evidence of Russia’s interference and have further warned that this could happen again in the future.”

“The Embassy categorically rejects such accusations and reiterates that the Russian Federation neither had any involvement in the protests that occurred in the recent past, nor does it have any connection to any potential future demonstrations or unrest.

“Russia has always respected the sovereignty of Nigeria. We strictly adhere to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of independent states.

“The Embassy also extends its best wishes to the people and Government of Nigeria for prosperity and stability, and we hope for continued cooperation and deepening relations between our two countries,” he said.