Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed accusations that Moscow is orchestrating mass protests in major European cities as a “clear overkill,” accusing European leaders of blaming external powers rather than confronting the causes of domestic unrest.
In an interview with the VGTRK broadcasting company published on Sunday, Putin said he was initially surprised that European criticism over the demonstrations focused on the United States before shifting towards Russia.
“Claims immediately began to be thrown out that the events taking place in Europe are the result of the activities of the current American administration and its support for right-wing parties and movements,” he said.
Putin described that reaction as “strange and completely unexpected,” saying he had not anticipated European leaders would criticise the United States, which he called their main military ally and protector.
He added that European leaders had subsequently returned to what he described as their “traditional accusations” against Russia.
Putin accuses European leaders of shifting blame
Putin argued that allegations of Russian involvement in mass demonstrations were exaggerated and said European governments were avoiding responsibility for the unrest.
“My first reaction when I saw this was surprise, because to say that we are provoking mass protests in major European cities is a clear overkill,” he said, adding that the claim should be obvious to ordinary European citizens.
The Russian president said the accusations reflected what he described as the weakness of some European leaders, arguing that they were blaming Washington and Moscow rather than analysing the underlying causes of public discontent.
The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected allegations of Russian interference in European political affairs.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also dismissed the accusations as “absurd” on October 19, according to reports.
France protests fuel dispute over foreign influence
The remarks come amid weeks of nationwide student protests in France, where debate over the demonstrations has increasingly extended to allegations of outside influence.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking at an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development-hosted conference on October 21, accused protesters of drawing on what he described as “hostile narratives” associated with Russia, China, Iran and the MAGA movement.
