Russia claims Western calls for ‘free, fair’ elections in Bangladesh ‘neo-colonialism’

Russia claimed Thursday that Western calls for “free and fair” elections in Bangladesh are an act of “neo-colonialism.”

“We have taken note of certain European and American politicians publishing letters calling for ‘free and fair’ elections in Bangladesh. This is #neocolonialism,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to a tweet by the ministry.

Zakharova defined the calls as “another attempt at blatant interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.”

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell acknowledged Thursday concerns cited by EU lawmakers about the democratic situation in Bangladesh.

“The EU … will undertake an exploratory mission to the country to assess the advisability, usefulness and feasibility of an Electoral Observation Mission,” Borrell wrote in a letter.???????

Meanwhile, 17 Bangladesh-American have addressed US President Joe Biden in a letter that asked him to “change the current course of action to ensure a violence-free secular democratic future for Bangladesh,” according to the Dhaka Tribune.

Bangladesh will hold general elections next January.???????