Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly dismissed allegations that Moscow is orchestrating mass demonstrations in major European cities, labeling such claims as a “clear overkill.” In an interview with the VGTRK broadcasting company published on Sunday, Putin argued that European leaders are attempting to shift blame toward external powers rather than addressing the root causes of domestic discontent.
The Russian president noted his initial surprise at the nature of the criticism directed at the demonstrations. He stated that, at first, European leaders seemed to focus their accusations on the United States and its support for right-wing movements. Putin described this reaction as “strange and completely unexpected,” as he had not anticipated that European nations would criticize the United States, which he characterized as their primary military ally and protector. Following this initial focus, he observed that European leaders eventually reverted to their “traditional accusations” against Russia.
Putin asserted that blaming Moscow for internal unrest is a tactic used by European governments to avoid taking responsibility for their own political and social problems. He suggested that such claims should be obvious to ordinary European citizens as an attempt to deflect from the underlying issues fueling public anger. The Kremlin has consistently denied any involvement in European political affairs, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissing similar accusations as “absurd” on October 19.
These remarks arrive during a period of sustained student protests in France, where the discourse has increasingly incorporated allegations of foreign influence. On October 21, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking at a conference hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, accused protesters of drawing on what he described as “hostile narratives” associated with Russia, China, Iran, and the MAGA movement.
