UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has warned voters in France and Germany of potential Russian influence in upcoming elections.
What happened
Burnham made the comments in an interview, stating that Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit vote. He said he had received a clear answer that yes, there was interference from Russia in the referendum. However, he did not provide details on the evidence or how Russia allegedly interfered.
Russia has previously denied meddling in the Brexit vote, with the Russian embassy in London not immediately responding to a request for comment. Burnham's comments mark a departure from those of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said in 2020 that there was no evidence of Russian interference in the referendum.
Burnham emphasized the importance of informing voters in European democracies about efforts to disrupt their politics, stating that some of these politics are instigated by enemies, namely Russia. He also noted that Britain's government had failed to establish whether Russia meddled in the 2016 referendum, according to a report by parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee in 2020.
