Putin rejects claims of vote fraud
Source: Agencies |
December 16, 2011, Friday
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Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vehemently rejected opposition calls for a rerun of the parliamentary election, accusing those who organized massive protests against vote fraud of working to weaken Russia at the West's behest.
Putin insisted yesterday that the December 4 parliamentary election, which drew allegations of fraud and triggered the largest protests in Russia in 20 years, was a genuine reflection of the people's will. He also put a positive spin on the protests, saying they reflected a rise in public activity that he welcomes.
"The results of this election undoubtedly reflect the real balance of power in the country," Putin said on a marathon TV show that lasted 4 1/2 hours. "It's very good that United Russia has preserved its leading position."
Yet in a characteristic move, he accused protest organizers of working to destabilize the country on orders from the West. "That's a well-organized pattern of destabilizing society," Putin said.
Putin's United Russia party lost about 20 percent of its seats and no longer has the two-thirds majority that previously allowed it to change constitution at will. It barely retained a majority in the State Duma.
In the week after the election, Putin dismissed criticism of the vote by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of US efforts to weaken Russia. "They still fear our nuclear potential," he said yesterday. "We also carry an independent foreign policy, and, of course, it's an impediment for some."
The rift over the elections revealed deep cracks in US-Russian relations despite President Barack Obama's efforts to "reset" ties with Russia. Putin said Moscow would like to develop cooperation with Washington but harshly criticized US foreign policy, accusing it of unilateralism.
"America doesn't need allies, it only needs vassals," Putin said.
Putin alleged the organizers of last Saturday's demonstration by tens of thousands in Moscow had paid some participants and publicly referred to them as sheep. Unleashing his penchant for dismissive and earthy remarks, Putin derided the white ribbons that have been adopted as a protest symbol, saying he thought demonstrators had "put some condoms" on their sleeves to promote safe sex.
Putin said the results of Russia's parliamentary election properly reflected the people's will, adding that the drop in support for his party was a natural result of the global financial crisis of 2008. He brushed off vote fraud claims as part of the opposition's maneuvering ahead of the presidential election, and said any complaints should go to the courts.
Putin sought to counter public discontent by proposing to place web cameras at each of Russia's more than 90,000 polling stations for the presidential vote. "Let them be there next to every ballot box to avoid any falsifications," he said.
He said he sees the presidential election as the only real test of his popularity, saying that "it's not determined on websites or on squares."
Putin also lashed out at US Senator John McCain, who had goaded him with a Twitter post saying "the Arab Spring is coming to a neighborhood near you."
"He has a lot of blood of peaceful civilians on his hands. He must relish and can't live without the disgusting, repulsive scenes of the killing of Gadhafi," Putin said, referring to McCain's role as a combat pilot and prisoner of war in Vietnam.
Putin insisted yesterday that the December 4 parliamentary election, which drew allegations of fraud and triggered the largest protests in Russia in 20 years, was a genuine reflection of the people's will. He also put a positive spin on the protests, saying they reflected a rise in public activity that he welcomes.
"The results of this election undoubtedly reflect the real balance of power in the country," Putin said on a marathon TV show that lasted 4 1/2 hours. "It's very good that United Russia has preserved its leading position."
Yet in a characteristic move, he accused protest organizers of working to destabilize the country on orders from the West. "That's a well-organized pattern of destabilizing society," Putin said.
Putin's United Russia party lost about 20 percent of its seats and no longer has the two-thirds majority that previously allowed it to change constitution at will. It barely retained a majority in the State Duma.
In the week after the election, Putin dismissed criticism of the vote by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of US efforts to weaken Russia. "They still fear our nuclear potential," he said yesterday. "We also carry an independent foreign policy, and, of course, it's an impediment for some."
The rift over the elections revealed deep cracks in US-Russian relations despite President Barack Obama's efforts to "reset" ties with Russia. Putin said Moscow would like to develop cooperation with Washington but harshly criticized US foreign policy, accusing it of unilateralism.
"America doesn't need allies, it only needs vassals," Putin said.
Putin alleged the organizers of last Saturday's demonstration by tens of thousands in Moscow had paid some participants and publicly referred to them as sheep. Unleashing his penchant for dismissive and earthy remarks, Putin derided the white ribbons that have been adopted as a protest symbol, saying he thought demonstrators had "put some condoms" on their sleeves to promote safe sex.
Putin said the results of Russia's parliamentary election properly reflected the people's will, adding that the drop in support for his party was a natural result of the global financial crisis of 2008. He brushed off vote fraud claims as part of the opposition's maneuvering ahead of the presidential election, and said any complaints should go to the courts.
Putin sought to counter public discontent by proposing to place web cameras at each of Russia's more than 90,000 polling stations for the presidential vote. "Let them be there next to every ballot box to avoid any falsifications," he said.
He said he sees the presidential election as the only real test of his popularity, saying that "it's not determined on websites or on squares."
Putin also lashed out at US Senator John McCain, who had goaded him with a Twitter post saying "the Arab Spring is coming to a neighborhood near you."
"He has a lot of blood of peaceful civilians on his hands. He must relish and can't live without the disgusting, repulsive scenes of the killing of Gadhafi," Putin said, referring to McCain's role as a combat pilot and prisoner of war in Vietnam.
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