Kremlin-supported media reported on Thursday that Russian officials were upset that the State Department had denied their requests to have Russian diplomats "monitor" polling stations, and that several states, including Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, also had separately denied Russian officials permission.
The State Department rejected claims that it had barred the Russians, saying that letting in foreign election observers is up to individual states, not the federal government.
"Any suggestion that we rejected Russia’s proposal to observe our elections is false," department spokesman Mark Toner said Thursday, going on to call the Russian reports "nothing more than a PR stunt."
The State Department rejected claims that it had barred the Russians, saying that letting in foreign election observers is up to individual states, not the federal government.
"Any suggestion that we rejected Russia’s proposal to observe our elections is false," department spokesman Mark Toner said Thursday, going on to call the Russian reports "nothing more than a PR stunt."
