Vygaudas Usackas, the EU’s ambassador to Russia, insisted the “citizens of Russia will decide on their future” after the country’s upper house speaker Valentina Matviyenko failed to rule out EU interference.
According to Russian state media TASS Mr Usackas told the Ekho Moskvy radio station the speaker was attempting to “frighten” Russians.
He said: “We have neither the intention, nor even the potential levers to somehow influence Russia’s domestic policy.
”Matviyenko is frightening people that the United States and Europe will allegedly pull off a revolution in Russia. No one will spark a revolution in Russia unless Russia changes itself.
The Brussels ambassador said the EU has “its hands full with its own troubles.”
He said: “Second, this is Russia. The citizens of Russia will decide on their future.
“We are not bankrolling the opposition or political parties in Russia.
“We hope and demand that such an important country and a potential partner, which is committed through its membership in the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the UN, should create equal opportunities for all political parties, even the opposition.
He stressed “the EU is not imposing European values and its political system. But concerning those who want to live in a similar way, we support them and will foster ties with them.”
The Russian presidential election will take place on March 18, 2018, which coincides with the four-year anniversary of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to run as an independent as he makes a bid for a fourth term in office.
Mr Putin has been President of Russia since 2000, apart from a stint as Prime Minister between 2008 and 2012.
Russia has been accused of interfering with foreign elections including the US election in November 2016 and recent German vote.
Moscow has repeatedly denied alleged meddling in foreign elections.
The United States is investigating the allegations with probes being conducted by several congressional committees along with the Department of Justice.