MOSCOW. Aug 13 (Interfax) - State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Leonid Slutsky has rejected Russia's criticism by U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer who described people detained during unpermitted protests as "political prisoners."
"The United States is the only country in the world, which dares to interfere in the sovereignty of others on the legislative level. Rest assured, Mr. Hoyer, all such plans of Washington will fail in Russia. We will be countering them on the legislative level," Slutsky wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
"The State Duma Council will hold an urgent meeting on August 19 to discuss an inquiry into foreign interference in domestic affairs of our country: this is the stance of all political forces," he said.
"U.S. Congress Majority Leader, Democrat Steny Hoyer has made a statement on the Moscow rallies and has described people detained during unpermitted protests as 'political prisoners' and said their 'harassment [...] is ought to alarm the world'," Slutsky said.
"People who live in glass houses should not throw stones," Slutsky said. "Maria Butina is a political prisoner, and the world has long shown concern about the brazen and overt attempts to establish the United States' hegemony," Slutsky said.
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin told the press earlier that materials regarding foreign interference in Russian internal affairs would be discussed at a special meeting of the Duma Council on August 19 at the proposal of all factions.