The US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis accused Russia of meddling in upcoming Macedonian referendum scheduled on September 30, Reuters reported. 

According to the him, Moscow uses its money and influence to meddle in Macedonian referendum on changing the country’s name to open the way for it to join NATO and the EU.

“We do not want to see Russia doing there (in Macedonia) what they have tried to do in so many other countries,” Mattis told reporters.

After a meeting with Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, Mattis noted without mentioning Russia that the US plans to expand its cybersecurity cooperation with Macedonia to prevent malicious cyber-activity that threatens the democracies.