The Russian Embassy in Nigeria, on Monday, clarified that its officials are neither involved in nor coordinating activities related to the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, during which some demonstrators have been seen waving Russian flags.
According to The PUNCH, in a statement issued in Abuja, the embassy emphasized that the Russian government and its officials are not participating in or directing the protests.
The protests, which began on Thursday, August 1, are a response to the widespread hardships faced by Nigerian citizens.
Earlier on Sunday, The PUNCH reported concerns from former envoys and ex-military officers about the presence of Russian flags among the demonstrators.
On Monday, the police announced the arrest of the flag supplier and 30 protesters.
In its statement, the Russian embassy asserted, “The Government of the Russian Federation, as well as any 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 domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria.”
The embassy attributed the display of Russian symbols to personal choices of the protesters, clarifying that these do not represent any official stance or policy of the Russian government.
“These intentions of some protesters to wave Russian flags are personal choices of individuals, and they do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government in the issue,” the embassy stated.
The statement further expressed respect for Nigeria’s democratic processes, recognizing peaceful demonstrations as a valid form of democratic expression while condemning any potential disruptions or violence.
“We respect Nigerian democracy and believe that peaceful demonstrations in conformity with the Nigerian law are a manifestation of democracy.
“However, should these events lead to any disruptions or acts of violence, we strictly condemn them,” it concluded.
