According to a report by United States intelligence, which Reuters revealed on October 20, Russia attempted to destroy trust in democratic institutions by actively interfering in the elections of at least nine nations between 2020 and 2022. This was done to weaken trust in democratic institutions. In the remaining 17 countries, Russia’s activities have been characterised as being “less pronounced.” The booklet was circulated to over a hundred embassies around the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa to inform local governments.
Intelligence agencies in the United States have warned that Russia is using spies, social media, and state-controlled media to undermine public belief in the legitimacy of democratic elections worldwide. The phrase “This is a global phenomenon” is repeated multiple times throughout the report. According to the data, high-ranking individuals in the Russian government, including those in the Kremlin, believe these kinds of influence operations are successful and find them valuable.
The document also notes that China also interferes in elections in other countries but does not use a similar tactic. China has repeatedly denied such allegations. However, in the report, Russia is labelled the “primary offender.”
The focus here is on the activities carried out by Russia to sway election outcomes in the United States and Europe. To be more specific, Russian operatives “disseminated and amplified information meant to erode faith in the upcoming election in the United States of America in 2020.” According to an anonymous senior State Department official speaking to journalists, the success of this campaign, combined with initiatives to spread disinformation about the COVID-19 epidemic, prompted Russia to intensify such operations abroad.
The U.S. intelligence report also provides an example of elections in an unspecified European country in 2020. According to Washington, Russia’s Federal Security Service secretly worked to intimidate members of election commissions, organised protests on the day of the election, and engaged in “sabotage of voting abroad.”
To counter Moscow’s activities, Washington recommends imposing sanctions on Russia, sharing information between governments, expelling Russian spies, and banning entry to individuals suspected of wrongdoing.
