Russian ambassador Zasypkin: Elections after Consensus, not under foreign instructions

                
Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin said on Tuesday that his country hopes that the upcoming Lebanese parliamentary elections will be held after “consensus”, and not “under foreign instructions”.               

The ambassador stressed that Russia remains committed to Lebanon's sovereignty and unity, praising the self-distancing policy adopted by the Lebanese authorities.                       

“We also hail the measures taken to prevent the smuggling of arms and fighters across the Lebanese-Syrian border, which would prevent any strife,” Zasypkin added.             

Asked whether his comments come in response to the stance voiced by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly on Monday, Zasypkin said that Russia has a clear stance regarding interfering in Lebanon's domestic affairs and hoped other parties will abide by the same policy”.               

On Monday, US ambassador Connelly to Lebanon expressed US concerns over the security situation in Lebanon, stressing that the parliamentary elections should be held on time.             

Connelly added that failure to reach consensus on a new electoral law does not mean that parliamentary elections could not be held on their due constitutional time.