Russia Backs India, Questions US Lack Of Evidence Implicating India In Pannun Case

Russia has criticized the US for its allegations against India over the foiled assassination attempt of pro-Khalistan radical Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Washington has not furnished credible evidence implicating Indian nationals in the incident yet.

"According to the information we have, Washington has not yet provided any reliable evidence of the involvement of Indian citizens in the preparation of the murder of a certain GS Pannun. Speculation on this topic in the absence of evidence is unacceptable," Maria Zakharova, the official spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said at a briefing on Wednesday.

The United States does not understand the national mentality, as well as the historical context of the development of the Indian state and it disrespects India as a state, she said.

Zakharova's comments were prompted by a media inquiry over Moscow's stance on allegations against an Indian official over a thwarted "assassination" attempt, as well as a claim by the American newspaper 'The Washington Post' suggesting parallels between India's actions and those of Russia and Saudi Arabia against perceived adversaries.

"'The Washington Post', it seems to me, should use the term "repressive regime" and everything you quoted in relation to Washington. It is difficult to imagine a more repressive regime than Washington, both in domestic and international affairs. Now directly about your question," Zakharova said.

"Regular unfounded accusations by the United States against New Delhi (we see that they groundlessly accuse not only India but also many other states) of violating religious freedoms are a reflection of the United States' misunderstanding of the national mentality, the historical context of the development of the Indian state and disrespect for India as a state . I am sure that this also comes from the neocolonial mentality, the mentality of the colonial period, the period of the slave trade, and imperialism," she said.

"This does not only apply to India. The reason is the desire to unbalance the internal political situation in India in order to complicate the general parliamentary elections taking place in the country. Of course, this is part of interference in India's internal affairs," she stated.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated as a terrorist by India, holds citizenship in both the United States and Canada. In November, the US Justice Department revealed an indictment against an Indian individual, accusing them of participating in a thwarted scheme to assassinate Pannun.

In April, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs dismissed a report from The Washington Post that implicated an official from India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in the purported plot to eliminate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States.