Russian Embassy denies involvement with protesters waving Russian flags

The Russian Embassy in Nigeria said on Monday that its officials were not involved with or coordinating the activities of individuals waving Russian flags during the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests across the country.

In a statement given to reporters in Abuja, the embassy clarified that neither the Russian government nor its officials participated in the protests.

The nationwide demonstrations, which began on Thursday, August 1, are a response to the economic hardships facing Nigerians.

Former diplomats and ex-military officers have previously voiced concerns about the appearance of Russian flags among the protesters.

Read also: Protesters waving Russian flags will face treason charges, CDS Musa says

On Monday, police arrested a Russian flag supplier along with 30 protesters.

In response, the Russian Embassy stressed, “The government of the Russian Federation, as well as other Russian officials, are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way. As always, we emphasize that Russia does not interfere in the internal affairs of foreign countries, including Nigeria.”

The embassy attributed the use of Russian symbols by some protesters to personal choice, stressing that it did not reflect the official position or policy of the Russian government. “The intention of some protesters to raise the Russian flag is a personal choice of each individual, and does not reflect the official position or policy of the Russian Government on this issue,” the statement said.

The embassy also reiterated its respect for Nigeria’s democratic process and recognized peaceful protests as a legitimate form of democratic expression.

However, he condemned any potential disruption or violence that may arise from the demonstration. “We respect Nigerian democracy and believe that peaceful demonstrations in accordance with Nigerian law are the embodiment of democracy. However, if this incident leads to disruption or violence, we strongly condemn it,” he concluded.

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