At the 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to a question posed by Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch:
Kenneth Roth: You talked about the danger of a unipolar world in which one sovereign makes decisions without consulting anyone else. In many people’s opinion, in Russia we are seeing an increasingly unipolar government where competing centers of influence are forced to toe the party line, whether it be in the State Duma, the regional leadership, the media, business community, or nongovernmental organizations. Would a unipolar government be such a reliable partner when the issue of energy or security is at stake?
President Vladimir Putin: I will begin with the last question about the unipolar nature of the Russian government. Today, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the United Russia Party, the Liberal Democratic Party and other political forces as well sit in the Russian parliament. And their basic positions differ significantly. If you aren't aware of this, then just have a talk with the leadership of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and then with the leader of our liberal democrats, Mr. Zhirinovsky. You will see the difference at once. If you cannot see it now, then have a talk with them. There is no problem here, simply go to Moscow and talk to them.
About our future plans. We would like to have a mature political system, a multi-party system with responsible politicians who can anticipate the country’s development and not only work responsibly before elections and immediately after, but in a long-term future as well. That is what we aspire to. And this system will certainly be a multi-party one. All our actions within Russia, including changing the State Duma election regime, the election regime in the Russian parliament, are designed to strengthen a multi-party system in Russia.
[Break for other questions]
So, what have I forgotten?
Another questioner: My question was about multipolarity in Russia itself and about the attitude of the international community towards Russia if Russia does not observe these principles, in reference to the murder of journalists, fears, anxieties, the absence of freedom and nongovernmental organizations.
Vladimir Putin: I will say a couple of words. I already answered part of the question when I talked about the structure of the Russian parliament. Look at who is represented there, the political views of the people who have leadership positions in parliament, the legitimate parties. Now, as to nongovernmental organizations, they are working actively in Russia. Yes, we introduced a new system for registering these organizations. But it is not that different from registration systems in other countries. And we have not yet seen any complaints from nongovernmental organizations themselves. We have not refused registration to almost any organizations. There were two or three cases that were refused on simply formal grounds, and these organizations are working on correcting certain provisions in their charters and so on. Nobody has been refused registration based on substantial, fundamental issues. All are continuing to work in the most active possible way and will continue to do so in the future.
What bothers us? I can say and I think that it is clear for all, that when these nongovernmental organizations are financed by foreign governments, we see them as an instrument that foreign states use to carry out their Russian policies. That is the first thing. The second: in every country there are certain rules for financing, shall we say, election campaigns. Financing from foreign governments, including within governmental campaigns, proceeds through nongovernmental organizations. And who is happy about this? Is this normal democracy? It is secret financing. Hidden from society. Where is the democracy here? Can you tell me? No! You can't tell me and you never will be able to. Because there is no democracy here, there is simply one state exerting influence on another.
But we are interested in developing civil society in Russia, so that it scolds and criticizes the authorities, helps them determine their own mistakes, and correct their policies in Russian citizens’ interests. We are certainly interested in this, and we will support civil society and nongovernmental organizations.
As to fears and so on, are you aware that today Russians have fewer fears than citizens in many other countries? Because in the last few years we made cardinal changes to improve the economic well-being of our citizens. We still have a great many problems. And we still have a great many unresolved problems, including problems linked with poverty. And I can tell you that fears basically come from this source.
As to journalists, then yes, this represents an important and difficult problem. And, incidentally, journalists are not only killed in Russia, but in other countries as well. Where are most journalists killed? You are an expert and probably know in which country the most journalists died in, say, the last year and a half? The largest number of journalists were killed in Iraq.
As to tragedies within Russia, we will certainly struggle with these phenomena in the most thorough way possible and sternly punish all criminals who try to undermine trust in Russia and damage our political system.
