Report: Russia accuses US of 'direct interference' in election

Russia is accusing the United States of "direct interference" in its upcoming presidential elections. This comes after the State Department criticized Russia’s decision to bar Alexa Navalny from running against Vladimir Putin.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook, "This State Department statement, which I'm sure will be repeated, is a direct interference in our electoral process and internal affairs."

In a statement shared with Business insider, a state department representative said they urge Russia’s government to hold transparent, fair and free elections—expressing concern over their crackdown against independent voices.

Zakharova found irony in the situation, mentioning how the people who she claims are interfering in their elections have expressed outrage over alleged Russian interference in U.S. elections.

Putin has been in office for 14 years and will run for another six-term in March.