Putin warns foreigners not to meddle in election

HEILIGENDAMM, Germany, June 8 (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin today warned foreigners not to try to exert influence on his country's elections.

''We will not permit any attempts to interfere or support political forces inside Russia on the eve of elections, forces that someone wants to support to push their vision of Russia's development,'' Putin told a news conference.

''Those who win in the presidential and parliamentary elections will be those who are trusted by the majority of the Russian citizens in a fair vote,'' Putin said at the Group of Eight summit in Germany.

Putin is due to leave office next year after serving two full terms. The presidential election is to take place in March 2008, and Russia also votes in a parliamentary election in December this year.

Putin issued the warning about meddling in Russian politics after a young man, who was sitting among journalists at a news conference, stood up and accused Putin of squashing democracy, while throwing leaflets in the air.

The protester, who later identified himself as Konstantin Shukman, 20, said he was a member of the Other Russia opposition coalition whose leaders include chess champion Garry Kasparov.

The Kremlin says the coalition is on the margins of Russian political life and Putin supporters have alleged it receives funding from the US government and Russian emigrees living in Britain, which the group denies.

Reuters SBC DB2338