No proof of Russian interference in US, EU elections: Russian FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gestures during a meeting with his Surinamese counterpart Yldiz Pollack-Beighle in Moscow, Russia Oct 31, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - The allegations that Russia has interfered in elections in the United States or the European Union are groundless and their authors are unable to present any proof, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

"It has even been mentioned somewhere that we are not only going to interfere in all the elections, but also will manipulate the environment to create floods," Lavrov said at a meeting with the Association of European Businesses.

"But no one has presented a single proof," he stressed.

Lavrov said the United States and its allies have accused Russia of everything from protests, bankruptcies of some companies, and "maybe even man-made disasters."

The minister also pointed out that the investigation of the Russian interference in the US presidential election has last for nine months already but no proof has been made public.

Lavrov said with so many people involved in the investigation in the US Congress and in the Office of Special Counsel, there should have been a leak to the media by now.

"Therefore, these excuses about secrecy, frankly, are simply ridiculous for people who make such serious accusations against us," said the minister.