The Russian Foreign Ministry's special envoy, Rodion Miroshnik said Saturday that in response to incidents in Simferopol and Yalta where individuals attempted to contaminate polling stations with a substance, local authorities in Crimea enhanced "precautionary measures."
Citing Chairman of the Crimean Electoral Commission Mikhail Malyshev, Miroshnik said that "security authorities have been ordered to inspect large bags and packages that some voters bring to the polls. There are also tables at the entrance to the polling stations where voters can temporarily leave bottles of water or juices." He added that "completely normal and adequate people are increasingly taking part in enemy actions [… with] their motivation being 'unclear'." Earlier during the day, Miroshnik said that "all attempts of foreign influence on the election process in Russia" should be taken not just as "interference in internal affairs, but crimes against statehood."
Crimea remains internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory occupied by the Russian Federation.
