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ALDE-PACE News

Mikhail Kasyanov shares views on the PACE's role in building democracy in Russia (English version)

2.10.2007 Mikhail Kasyanov shares views on the role of the Parliamentary Assembly in building democracy in Russia

Mikhail Kasyanov, leader of the "People's Democratic Union", former Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and ALDE's special guest, commented on the results of his visit to Strasbourg.

by Maria Bigday, ALDE Assistant

- What did you expect from your visit to the ALDE and the Council of Europe? Have these expectations been met ?

I have had very interesting meetings. I am grateful to our colleagues from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe for the organization of these intensive meetings and fruitful discussions. Most of them concerned the situation in Russia. Nevertheless, we have also discussed the situation in Kosovo, in Iran; we talked about the necessity of ratification of the ECHR protocols strengthening the Court's competences and abolishing death penalty.

- The visit being over, what is your understanding of the PACE's role in democracy building in Russia?

The Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly are highly important institutions. They are the spirit of democracy that Russia needs today more than ever before - much more than in 1996-1997 in the time of Russia's accession to the Council of Europe - because today's Russia has turned away from the principles of democracy. The acts of the Russian authorities at present contradict the spirit of constitutionalism based on European values. Therefore political groups, that keep defending the Constitution and believe that democratic development of Russia is the only way for prosperity for all citizens, need PACE's moral and factual support. This support is crucial. About 25% of Russian citizens believe in the virtue of democracy. There are also many Russians who are not interested in the details of democracy building but who realize that freedom and prosperity are interrelated. It is only through freedom that one can achieve prosperity. Therefore we need the work of the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly monitoring the respect of democratic norms in Russia, including civil rights and political freedoms. And we should not be embarrassed by any critique or tutorial regarding Russia. We want to be treated as a normal democratic state. Democratic standards in use within the Council of Europe should fully and strictly apply to the Russian Federation as well. One should not close the eyes at the situation in Russia. One must not let Russia break the rules and do wrong things just because somebody considers Russia "special or too important". No member state can be allowed to do anything wrong.

- Do you think it is realistic, when you speak about equal approach to Russia?

I want to believe in it. The results of most meetings with representatives of political groups support my belief. However unfortunately, a few interlocutors contradicted my beliefs: they put forward that Russia was a big country and it would overcome the difficulties step-by-step, therefore one had to be patient. But it cannot work this way ! There cannot be partial freedom. We are not China or any other country where freedom can be given up to citizens little by little. Freedom either exists or doesn't exist at all. Russia has chosen freedom, nobody doubts that. For this reason, there cannot be any excuse for a gradual approach or any compromise. We cannot say now that we build democracy but we have a special kind of democracy, some specific Russian kind, or else that Russian people are not ready for democracy. It is a complete lie; it is an attempt to camouflage "other goals" of the authorities. And our colleagues here do not, let us say so, stand firmly enough on principles that once brought them to democracy. Talking about principles, I mean democratic state and society functioning, civil rights and political freedoms. We do not have all this in Russia today. Therefore in what fundamental principle and values are concerned, Russia does not comply with the standards of the Council of Europe, even though at the moment of Russia's accession to the CoE commitments were made and obligations started to be fulfilled. All that is crossed out today.

- As for the situation in Russia, in your opinion, how will President Putin's declaration on Monday modify the alignment of political forces and the strategy of Russian democratic forces? [October 1, President Putin announced he would lead the list of candidates of the United Russia at the Duma elections in December].

Democratic forces do not have any strategy. Creating such a strategy is our goal. Together with party colleagues and representatives of other organizations, I am trying to elaborate a strategy. In order to have a common strategy we need to be united. Up to date, this has not been attained.
In what political situation in Russia is concerned, it will not change dramatically. Political monopoly will be strengthened; I mean state, Putin and his people's monopoly. Putin's decision should be exclusively viewed as an attempt to reinforce "verticalization" of power reducing any electoral risk. This will render the elections even less important. This will also minimize all possible risks related to the organization of undemocratic elections in order to obtain results which will perfectly satisfy President Putin. That is Russia's trouble.