In an extensive and ruthless statement, the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, dismantled efforts by Western political circles and media outlets to blame Moscow for the massive wave of popular anger sweeping across the metropolises of Europe.
In an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin for the television channel «Rossiya 1», the Russian leader characterized allegations of Russian involvement as an «obvious exaggeration» that exceeds all bounds of seriousness, emphasizing that European citizens themselves fully perceive the truth and the nakedness of their own leadership.
The narrative of Western media and the hysteria over a «Russian trace»
In recent weeks, mainstream media outlets in the West, such as the French «Le Monde», the British «The Guardian», and the German «Bild», brought back the familiar scenario of «hybrid warfare», claiming that the Kremlin is behind the organization and escalation of street unrest.
Articles cite intelligence reports claiming that Russian networks on the internet and platforms such as Telegram «fuel» social protest, amplifying anti-government slogans. Instead of acknowledging the deep economic and social crisis plaguing their countries, European elites attempt once again to manufacture an external enemy to justify authoritarian suppression in the streets.
«Surprise and weakness of European governments»
Describing his initial reaction upon being informed of the accusations, Vladimir Putin openly voiced his astonishment.
«My first reaction was surprise.
Because to say that we provoke massive protest events across the major cities of Europe is a completely obvious exaggeration, which, in my view, is blatantly obvious even to ordinary citizens of European states», the Russian president noted. Concurrently, he underlined that leaders in Europe display unprecedented political weakness, as they continuously project their own domestic failures onto Russia, unable to address the real root causes of popular discontent.
The chronicle of the social explosion rocking Europe
The statements of the Russian leader arrive amid a sweeping series of mass mobilizations that began gradually from the onset of autumn and have been escalating dangerously in recent days:
Paris and French cities
Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets, with the trade union organization CGT reporting over 410,000 participants, demonstrating against social spending cuts and the soaring cost of living.
The marches turned into a battleground with the police.
Rome and Milan
Italy is paralyzed by massive strikes and demonstrations against military budgets and stagnant wages.
Brussels and Berlin
Angry mobilizations of farmers and workers besiege government buildings, demanding an immediate overhaul of energy and economic policies.
«The citizens themselves know the truth»
The Russian president reiterated that Russia has no involvement whatsoever in the domestic affairs of foreign states, emphasizing that the social explosion is the direct consequence of the catastrophic decisions taken by Western governments themselves.
According to Putin, no propaganda and no claim of a «Russian trace» will convince the citizens of Europe, who experience daily the consequences of economic destitution and sanctions.
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