Moscow accuses Baltic states of ‘sabotage’ in Russian president election

On February 5, 2024, the Russian government summoned the envoys of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, accusing these Baltic states of attempting to sabotage the March 2024 Russian presidential election by ignoring Moscow's security requests to protect polling stations at Russian embassies. Russia threatened serious consequences and declared it would act decisively in a bilateral and international context if sabotage continued. The accusations come amid expectations that President Vladimir Putin will win the election amid repression of dissent and a lack of genuine opposition. Lithuania responded by calling Russia’s claims bizarre and underlined its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, condemning Russia’s illegal actions in occupied Ukrainian territories. Lithuania also stressed that responsibility for any provocations lies with Russia. The event highlights ongoing tensions between Russia and Baltic states over election security and regional stability.