Digital firms accused over election

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned US ambassador John Sullivan to complain about alleged interference by digital giants in Russia’s forthcoming parliamentary election.

A ministry statement said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed Russia possesses irrefutable evidence of the violation of Russian legislation by American “digital giants” in the context of the elections to the State Duma.

Russian authorities have pressured Google and Apple to remove apps of the Smart Voting initiative that aims to advise voters which candidates are in the best position to defeat candidates from United Russia, the party that backs Vladimir Putin.