President Abdulla Yameen has said that threatening to impose sanctions on Maldives is influencing the country’s elections.

Speaking at a campaign event on Friday night, President Yameen said that he was saddened by the possibility of sanctions.

“There is no bigger way to influence the votes other than to threaten to impose sanctions on the eve of the elections. There is no bigger way to undermine a president or candidate’s electoral rights.”

In a press statement on Thursday, the United States revealed concerns on “continued democratic backsliding” in the country, specifically at a time the country is headed towards a presidential election and announced its decision to adopt sanctions on the Maldives if the political situation in the country does not improve and if the country does not return to democratic principles.

In the statement, the US called for the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court ruling on February 1 that ordered the release of political prisoners and reinstatement of opposition lawmakers.

In his speech on Friday night, President Yameen said that there was no doubt that “these political kids” were behind the Supreme Court ruling on February 1.

He added that the opposition is incapable of making and fulfilling their pledges.