The Kremlin said that Russia was registered attempts by foreign powers to influence its domestic politics, but that the three-day regional and local elections went smoothly, Reuters reported.
Supporters of President Vladimir Putin and his war in neighboring Ukraine will win the gubernatorial elections, according to yesterday's preliminary results.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier measures meant that the ability of foreign powers to influence such elections was significantly less and that authorities were making efforts to protect the domestic political scene from foreign interference.
The Kremlin also clarified that President Vladimir Putin is not interested in giving an interview to the reporter of the "Wall Street Journal" Evan Gershkovich, who was recently released from a Russian prison, nor in front of reporters from other Western media.
Gerschkovich, convicted in Russia on espionage charges that he, "The Wall Street Journal" and Washington vehemently deny, asked to interview the leader of