Russia is prepared to counter any twisted Western provocations amid the upcoming elections to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the Sputnik radio station.

“Diplomats are being trained even more thoroughly,” Zakharova noted, while commenting on Russia’s readiness for Western provocations amid the State Duma elections. “We are absolutely ready for that. At the same time, we fully understand that the other side is apparently equally prepared to carry out other, perhaps even far more twisted, provocations.”