Russian Ambassador on Yellow Vests: French Should Deal With Internal Affairs on Their Own

PARIS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 08th February, 2019) Moscow does not meddle in the internal affairs of other states, and the yellow vest protests in France are exactly such a case, where it is only up to the French people to deal with what is happening in their home country, Russian Ambassador in Paris Alexei Meshkov told Sputnik in an interview.

"Unlike our Western partners � look at what is happening around Venezuela � we never interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, nor give advice. We therefore prefer not to comment on the complex internal processes taking place there. Let the French deal with what is happening at home on their own," Meshkov said.

The ambassador also expressed belief that the French would ultimately manage to "find a way out of this social and political crisis."

"The main thing is not to use violent methods and strictly observe human rights and freedoms, including the right to peaceful demonstrations, � this is what the French authorities remind us about each time when protest rallies are held in Russia," he added.

Meshkov also urged Russian nationals, while visiting France, to avoid places of protests, which are often accompanied by tough confrontation between some of the demonstrators and law enforcement officers.

The wave of the so-called yellow vest rallies, which have been marked by violence, clashes with law enforcement agents and public disorder, started in France in mid-November. While the government ultimately abandoned plans to raise fuel taxes, which triggered the rallies in the first place, and introduced other measures to improve the country's socioeconomic situation, the protests have continued and morphed in wider outcry against French President Emmanuel Macron's economic policies and high living costs.