Russian democracy is the power of the Russian people with their own traditions of national self-government, and not the realisation of standards foisted on us from outside.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
In my personal opinion, Russia is no less democratic than it used to be. It is a democratic country. It is democratic enough.
For Russia, there is not and there may not be another political option but democracy. However, Russian democracy is... not at all the realization of standards imposed on us from outside.
In the Russian experience, although the Russian state is oppressive, it is their state, it is part of their fabric, and so the relation between Russian citizens and their state is complicated.
Despite elections and the experience of post-Soviet personal freedoms by the Russian people, the fate of democracy in Russia is perhaps more ambiguous now than at any time since the collapse of the Communist system.
The great drama of Russian history has been between its state and society. Put simply, Russia has always had too much state and not enough society.
Russians have a new freedom, but as long as they don't express that freedom on a public platform.
I've been reading this little book. It's called the Russian constitution. And it says that the only source of power in Russia is the people. So I don't want to hear those who say we're appealing to the authorities. Who's the power here?
Russia needs a strong state power and must have it. But I am not calling for totalitarianism.
My government is in no sense anti-Russian.
Democracy is the wholesome and pure air without which a socialist public organization cannot live a full-blooded life.
No opposing quotes found.