MOSCOW. Aug 8 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has denied reports of Greek media claiming that Russia has been preparing protests in Thessaloniki during an international exhibition in September.
"There is not a word of truth in the article of the Greek newspaper Kontra News," the Russian Foreign Ministry said on its VKontakte account.
"Russia has never encroached on Greece's sovereignty, public order or state security. Why would our country engage in disrupting events in Greece?" it said.
"Such unfriendly and, frankly speaking, foolish remarks against Russia are an embarrassment to Greek journalism. Kontra News' speculations sound absurd against the background of our warm and respectful attitude towards Athens as an equal partner," the Foreign Ministry said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry mentioned that "on July 23, 2018, the Greek newspaper Kontra News published an article headlined 'Who is developing a plan of disrupting the International Fair in Thessaloniki? Representatives of the Black Front of nationalists and forces linked to Moscow are preparing riots and illegal quasi-governmental structures are being mobilized.'"
"Citing an anonymous source in Greek security services, the newspaper claimed that some Greek gangs of street hooligans 'funded from Putin's slash funds' were preparing for protests in Thessaloniki during the opening of the annual International Fair there this September," it said.