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Russia questions US over lack of evidence implicating India in Pannun case
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Washington's lack of understanding of India's national mentality and history.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova during an address. / X/@_MariaZakharova
The Russian Foreign Ministry on May.8 dismissed all allegations of Indian involvement in a foiled assassination plot of pro-Khalistan Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil, made by The Washington Post.
“Washington lacks a simple understanding of India's national mentality and history, as America continues to make unfounded accusations about religious freedoms,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in response to a media query. “Washington's actions clearly constitute interference in India's internal affairs…As for speculations, since there is no evidence, it is not acceptable…They are not respecting India as a state.”
"The reason [behind the US accusations] is to unbalance the internal political situation in India and complicate the General Elections [...],” added Zakharova.
US State Department Principal Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel had said on Apr.30 that the US is "regularly working" with the Indian government and "enquiring for additional updates" in its investigation into the matter.
The remarks were made by Patel in a US State Department press briefing following a report published by The Washington Post which, citing unnamed sources, mentioned the involvement of a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer in connection with the case.
According to the WaPo investigative report published on Apr.29, the individual listed as "CC-1" in the US indictment that was unsealed in November 2023 in relation to the Pannun case was identified as RAW officer Vikram Yadav. Yadav is an official from the Research and Analysis Wing (an Indian government agency).
Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had refuted the claims saying they were “speculative and unnecessary” especially when an investigation was going on in the matter.
Pannun, who serves as the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, a New York-based organization, is classified as a terrorist by the Indian Home Ministry.
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