Electoral security

Putin to spy service: Defend Russian elections from foreign foes

President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he had seen specific intelligence suggesting Russia's foreign enemies were preparing for parliamentary elections later this year and ordered the security service to head off any external interference.

Putin, addressing the country's FSB security service, said foreign intelligence agencies had become much more active in 2015 and that the activities of more than 400 foreign spies had been thwarted with 23 of them charged with criminal offences.

He singled out parliamentary elections in September - which will be held at a time when Russia is navigating an economic crisis fueled by low oil prices, Western sanctions, and a weak rouble - as a particular threat to the Kremlin...

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-putin-idUSKCN0VZ1S5