Russia says ‘archaic’ US electoral system cannot meet democratic standards

Russia says the political structure of the United States suffers from an “archaic” electoral system that does not meet democratic standards, blaming politicization of the media for American divisions and unrest, a day after the Capitol Building was breached by a mob of pro-Trump supporters.

The building on Wednesday was stormed by violent supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump as it was counting the Electoral College votes. Four people were killed in the violence.

Security staff was overwhelmed and House members and Senators fled the scene as shots were fired to disperse the crowd. Police later cleared the Capitol of Trump supporters, enforced a curfew, and arrested 52 people.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said breaching the Capitol by the pro-Trump mob was “an internal US affair” but that blame rested with the American system.

“The electoral system in the United States is archaic, it does not meet modern democratic standards, creating opportunities for numerous violations, and the American media have become an instrument of political struggle,” Zakharova further said at a press conference in Moscow.

“This is largely the reason for the split in society now observed in the United States.” 

Video shows moment woman killed by police in US Capitol amid riot

Four Americans are killed as supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday.

Konstantin Kosachyov, the chair of the Russian upper house's foreign affairs committee, said that what had happened clearly showed that the US political system was limping on both feet.

“The losing side has more than enough grounds to accuse the winner of falsifications -- it is clear that American democracy is limping on both feet,” he said.

Kosachyov also noted that Washington cannot lecture other countries on freedom and democracy anymore.

“The celebration of democracy has ended. It has, unfortunately, hit rock bottom, and I say this without a hint of gloating. The US no longer charts the course and so has lost all right to set it. And, even more so, to impose it on others,” he added.

Leonid Slutsky, the foreign affairs chief in Russia’s lower house, said after the Capitol incident, the US could not impose electoral standards on other nations and still “claim to be the world's 'beacon of democracy'.”

He said the “boomerang of the color revolutions” is now in its returning course heading toward the US. “All this threatens to turn into a crisis in the American system of power.”

Russia says the US cynically uses allegations of democratic failings in other countries to pursue its own agenda and maintain its global position.

In pictures: Pro-Trump rioters storm US Capitol as Congress certifies Biden’s win

Pro-Trump rioters storm the US Capitol as Congress certifies the Electoral College

Despite calls from inside and outside the building, Trump delayed any call on his backers to get out of the Capitol. Vice President Mike Pence, instead, called on them to “immediately leave the building.”

This prompted calls for Trump’s immediate removal from office as his cabinet members were reportedly discussing the possibility of invoking the 25th amendment to the US Constitution.

The amendment allows for a president’s removal by the vice-president if he is judged “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.”

This would require Pence to lead the cabinet in a vote on removing Trump.

The US Congress finally confirmed President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, hours after going into an emergency recess. 

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