Rusland volgt eigen weg naar democratie (en)

Russia is to become "a free and democratic state", but following its own rhythm and without foreign interference, Russian president Vladimir Putin has said.

Putin praised the virtues of democracy, saying that, "present-day Russia prizes democratic values no less than economic success or people's social welfare".

But he also replied to criticisms, recently voiced by the US, that his country has a "managed democracy".

"Russia will decide for itself the pace, terms and conditions of moving towards democracy", the President was reported as saying on Monday (25 April), during his annual address to the nation.

"We are a free nation and our place in the modern world will be defined only by how successful and strong we are", he added.

The Russian president also made it clear that no other "velvet revolutions", like those in Ukraine, Georgia or Kyrgyzstan would be tolerated, dubbing them "illegal" attempts to subvert democracy.

"Any unlawful methods of struggle for ethnic, religious and other interests contradict the principles of democracy. The state will react with legal, but tough, means", he said.

Mr Putin deplored the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, calling it "a major geopolitical disaster of the century", and a "genuine drama" for the Russian people.

But now, the country's mission to "bring further civilisation to the Euro-Asian continent" must be carried on, he indicated.

The Soviet Union disintegrated into 15 separate states in December 1991, after some 70 years of cohesion.