On Monday, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria issued a statement clarifying that its officials are not involved in or coordinating the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, during which some demonstrators have been seen waving Russian flags.
In a statement released in Abuja, the embassy emphasized that the Russian government and its officials are not participating in or directing the protests, which began on Thursday, August 1, in response to widespread hardships faced by Nigerian citizens.
Earlier on Sunday, concerns were raised by former diplomats and ex-military officers about the presence of Russian flags among the demonstrators. On Monday, the police reported the arrest of the flag supplier and 30 protesters.
The Russian embassy stated, “The Government of the Russian Federation and any Russian officials are not involved in or coordinating these activities. As always, Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria.”
The embassy attributed the display of Russian symbols to individual choices of the protesters, clarifying that these do not represent any official stance or policy of the Russian government.
“These actions by some protesters to display Russian flags are personal choices and do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government,” the statement said.
The embassy expressed respect for Nigeria’s democratic processes and recognized 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 accordance with Nigerian law are a manifestation of democracy. However, we strongly condemn any disruptions or acts of violence,” the statement concluded.
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