Brussels, 11/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 11 March, MEPs criticised the human rights and democracy situation in Russia and called for cooperation with Russian civil society.
During a debate organised after the murder of Boris Nemtsov, the MEPs condemned his killing which took place on 27 February (see EUROPE 11265), remembering the numerous other Russian opposition members who have also died in strange circumstances over recent years. “Is there any democracy in Russia? This is the question that needs to be answered”, said Andrzej Duda (ECR, Poland), stating that the elections in Russia were not fair, that the lawcourts were not independent, that there was so much propaganda that it was difficult to find correct information, and that the non-governmental organisations were persecuted. “It seems to me that Russia today has nothing to do with democracy”, Duda said.
In the view of Johannes Van Baalen (ALDE, the Netherlands), Russia's President Vladimir Putin is conducting a long-term policy to restore the influence Russia had in Soviet Union times - with a total lack of rule of law. “Those who try to uncover the truth in Russia are particularly threatened. Members of the opposition are considered as dissidents. We must adopt an appropriate policy with regard to Russia, and do everything to maintain contact with civil society. Our policy is against Putin and not against Russia”, said Rebecca Harms (Greens/EFA, Germany).
According to Knut Fleckenstein (S&D, Germany), “the living conditions must be changed, to enable freedom of the media, democracy, and an atmosphere of tolerance” in Russia. He stated that the Parliament should express itself “clearly by using words that will enable a frank dialogue in the future”. The EU should communicate with the Russians, especially the young people, said Sandra Kalniete (EPP, Latvia). “We should hold the Russian people's hand”, said Van Baalen.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stated that strengthening democracy was the subject of the first article of the partnership agreement between Russia and the EU. “The Russians are entitled to an open and democratic Russia”, she said, giving a negative balance of the country's current situation. She added that the EU wanted to stand alongside Russian society in every way possible and that it would multiply its contacts. “The risk is that whole swathes of Russian society - especially young people - turn away from Europe and consider Europe as an enemy”, Mogherini stated. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)