Strasbourg, 23/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Wednesday, Garry Kasparov, one of the rising opposition to the “regime” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, welcomed the European Union's change of attitude towards Russia. “We have seen a very different attitude adopted both by the EP and European leaders vis-à-vis Russia,” said the former world chess champion at a conference in the European Parliament.
This change of stance by the Europeans was seen, for example, at the EU-Russia Summit in Samara on 18 (see EUROPE 9429). “It's not that we're asking to ostracise Russia for the wrong-doings of President Putin and his regime, but we believe that Europe and the free world should take a stand over democratic institutions, the rule of law, human rights and not apply double standards,” added Mr Kasparov, who is the current leader of United Civil Front (OGF). “That is a fault and a mistake of G7 and international institutions which deal with Mr Putin's Russia. This mistake has worked against us,” he said. He thanked EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering for inviting him to Strasbourg, and especially for the support this gave those working for democracy in Russia. He said he appreciated the “strong determination” of Parliament representatives in wanting to speak to him about the political situation in Russia, while welcoming the Assembly's recent resolution on human rights in Russia (see EUROPE 9424). A delegation of Socialist MEPs will travel to Moscow on 27-29 May to meet Russian representatives, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Mr Kasparov also strongly attacked the regime in place in Russia. “Joining a demonstration in Moscow is quite risky,” he said, and he said he thought that, over the years, the numbers of people joining in street demonstrations had declined significantly, from several hundred thousands in 1999 to a few thousand today. “Having 5,000 protestors on Moscow's streets is much more impressive than having hundreds of thousands of people protesting on the streets of Paris against the war in Iraq,” he said, indicating, in passing, that Russian police officers were given the order to be “very cruel” towards demonstrators.
Why don't we hear a bout this? Because “the Kremlin exercises total control over Russian media,” he said, adding that an end had to be put to this “as soon as possible”. “All (Mr Putin's) decisions,” he said, “are based on the benefits that can be draw by companies which are potential donors to Kremlin elites”, and he mentioned companies like Shell and TNK-BP, the Russian subsidiary of British Petroleum.
In his analysis of the situation, “Russia directly or indirectly sells weapons and nuclear technology to Iran or deals with Hezbollah and Hamas, because this regime needs high oil prices. The instability of oil prices in the Middle East helps keep prices high”. Mr Kasparov said he hoped that opposition forces could remain united and continue to protest non-violently until the presidential elections due to take place in March 2008. He also expressed the hope that these elections are not “fake”. On his own possible candidacy at the elections, the OGF leader did not seem particularly keen. “I don't want my personal agenda to jeopardise the chances of the opposition winning.”
Mr Kasparov was invited to Strasbourg by European Parliament President, German Christian Democrat Hans-Gert Pöttering, after demonstrations by the Russian opposition in April, when he was held in police custody for eleven hours. A “March of Dissidents” is planned in Voronezh, 500km south of Moscow on 29 May and in Saint Petersburg on 9 June. (bc)