NEW DELHI: Russia dismissed on Monday as “false” a UK social media expert’s claim that Moscow may interfere in elections in countries such as India and Brazil through their media. In a statement, the Russian embassy in New Delhi said it would “never do anything against interests of the friendly Indian nation”.

The reaction came after Philip N Howard, an Oxford University social media expert, made the claim during a hearing of the US Senate intelligence committee on foreign influence on social media.

Russia stressed it had not interfered in the politics of other nations. It is under US sanctions after the US accused Moscow of interfering in its 2016 presidential elections. “This blatantly false and unfounded assertion is a phoney attempt to drive a wedge between Russia and her Brics partners following the success of the recent summit meeting of the group in Johannesburg ,” the embassy said in a statement.

