RUSSIA: President Vladimir Putin, using Cold War rhetoric, accuses foreign governments of sponsoring his opponents in next month's election to weaken Russia

Record ID: 212657

  • Title: RUSSIA: President Vladimir Putin, using Cold War rhetoric, accuses foreign governments of sponsoring his opponents in next month's election to weaken Russia
  • Date: 22nd November 2007
  • Summary: (W3) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (NOVEMBER 21, 2007) (REUTERS) VIDEO SCREEN WITH RUSSIAN FLAG/ RUSSIAN FLAGS AND UNITED RUSSIAN BANNERS BEING WAVED INSIDE HALL VARIOUS OF SINGERS ON STAGE PERFORMING A SONG IN PRAISE OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, WITH A CHORUS THAT, SAYS: "I need (a man) the same as Putin!" PEOPLE IN HALL/ BANNER
  • Embargoed: 7th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB3KDC6KAUI4W8ZX82ZZQF3SOD
  • Story Text: President Vladimir Putin, using Cold War rhetoric, accuses foreign governments of sponsoring his opponents in next month's election to weaken Russia.
    President Vladimir Putin accused foreign governments on Wednesday (November 21) of sponsoring his political opponents in next month's election so as to weaken Russia and carry out "dirty tricks" against it.
    "Unfortunately there are still those people in our country who still slink through foreign embassies ... who count on the support of foreign funds and governments but not the support of their own people," Putin told a cheering crowd of several thousands at a Moscow sports stadium.
    With Soviet-era songs blaring, the crowd waved flags and banners and chanted support for the 55-year-old leader, who is by far Russia's most popular politician after eight successive years of strong economic growth.
    "Victory for Putin is victory for Russia!" read a huge poster at the cavernous Luzhniki sports arena where supporters had massed for the latest in a series of pro-Putin events held across the country.
    The event was organised by the "For Putin" movement, which aims to persuade the Kremlin chief to stay on as leader after his second term in officenext year. The constitution prohibits a third consecutive term.
    Putin, who wore a dark suit and black polo-neck sweater, did not mention his future plans, despite rumours in the Russian media that he might make a big announcement. He said only that the government would undergo "complete renewal" in coming months.
    "Dear friends, in the elections on December 2, the fate of the country will in a significant way be decided. Make sure you come and vote for United Russia," said Putin to loud cheers from the crowd in the hall.
    "We need your support. Together with you, we need to continue the start of the transformation (of our country), so that in every city, in every village, in every street, and in every house, in every Russian's life everything changes for the best. So that the people of our country can believe in their tomorrow, and are able to live a decent life, which people of a great Russia deserve to have," he added.
    Putin has said the party's expected landslide win will give him a "moral right" to influence government even after he steps down, though he has not said how.
    "Russia, Russia, Russia! We believe in ourselves, we believe in Russia!", chanted supporters amid a sea of Russian tricolor flags as Soviet-era songs glorifying the Komsomol young communist league thundered from loudspeakers.
    Putin himself has condemned the internal repression of the country's Stalinist past. A former agent for the old KGB state security, he also has described the collapse of the Soviet Union as the 20th's century's biggest geo-political catastrophe.
    United Russia leaders were present at the gala, along with the rank-and-file Putin fans.
    "It's difficult to imagine Russia without Putin. I think that if something happens and Putin is not with us, the country could face chaos and break-up. So, as supporters of Putin, we will do our best to keep him, and will support his policy of Russia as a sovereign, independent and strong state," Kristina Rastvorovo, a student and activist of the pro-Kremlin Nashi youth movement, told Reuters.
    Pavel Astakhov, a lawyer leading a nationwide movement called "For Putin" which urges Putin to stay on in some capacity, told reporters Putin's achievements during his time in office meant he was the only genuinely popular political figure in Russia.
    "The person who at the moment enjoys the most support nationally, is Valdimir Putin. That is why we believe in him, and we trust him. For eight years he has been able to show that the country is not being destroyed, that the country is being rebuilt, that people are living better lives, and all the achievements we have so far we need to keep. That is why he is our choice and that is why we want to support him."
    Putin is leading the list of candidates of the main pro-Kremlin party in the December elections to the State Duma (lower house of parliament).
    Opinion polls show more than 60 percent of voters will back United Russia.
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