MOSCOW: Russia foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova became thelatest woman to accuse senior lawmaker Leonid Slutsky of sexual harassmenton Saturday.

Four journalists have accused Slutsky, the head of the Duma’s foreignaffairs committee, of inappropriate sexual conduct over the past few weeks.

“Leonid started saying things in a restaurant that I found veryunpleasant,” Zakharova told Russia’s NTV television when asked about theclaims.

“I was surprised to see that those present… did not say anything at thetime and did not support me,” she said, adding that the incident took placein Saint Petersburg five years ago “when I was not a well-known person”.

“I completely oppose those who say that see, she only makes this up now,she’s that kind of girl, she does not dress properly, all of this isinvented.”

Three of the journalists have gone public with their accusations, whichinclude making lewd sexual comments and groping, breaking the silence on asubject that remains largely taboo in Russia.

Slutsky has labelled the claims as “cheap, low-grade provocation” anddismissed them as a political attack ordered by his enemies. He even saidthe scandal “boosted my gravitas rather than took it away”.

However,on Thursday — International Women’s Day — Slutsky apologised forthe first time.

“I would like to apologise to those of you I have wittingly or unwittinglycaused distress,” he said on Facebook. “Trust me, I meant no harm.”

The 50-year-old MP in the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party has beenwidely supported by his colleagues so far, including the party’s leaderVladimir Zhirinovsky, who accused the women of “receiving orders from theWest”. – APP /AFP