The Hindu : International : Putin regrets collapse of Soviet Union

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Tuesday, Apr 26, 2005

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International

Putin regrets collapse of Soviet Union

Vladimir Radyuhin

WORST DISASTER IN FOUR DECADES: Rescue operations being undertaken at the derailed train in Amagasaki, near Osaka, western Japan, on Monday. — PHOTO: AP

MOSCOW: The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, described the break-up of the Soviet Union as the biggest political catastrophe of the 20th century and rejected Western sermons on democracy in Russia.

"It must be admitted that the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century," Mr. Putin said in his annual state of the nation address to Parliament on Monday.

He said the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 was "a true drama" which left tens of millions of Russians stranded outside Russia, destroyed old ideals and robbed people of their savings.

Mr. Putin made it clear that foreign advice on democracy in new Russia was unwarranted. Russia would develop as a "free and democratic country" but at its own pace, he said.

Free nation

Russia "will decide for itself the pace, terms and conditions of moving towards democracy," he said. "We are a free nation and our place in the modern world will be defined only by how successful and strong we are."

Mr. Putin also warned the West against trying to stage a "velvet revolution" in Russia similar to those in Georgia and Ukraine.

"Progressive development of democracy in Russia is only possible on the basis of law," Mr. Putin said. "Any unlawful methods of struggle for ethnic, religious and other interests contradict the principles of democracy. The state will react to them with legal, but tough, means."

Mr. Putin called for an amnesty for Russian capital stashed away in offshore banks. "We must allow private individuals to declare their capitals that have been amassed in previous years in line with a simplified procedure," he said. "The money must work for our economy instead of lying on offshore accounts."

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