RUSSIA: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin uses his televised New Year greeting to offer seasonal good wishes to his political opponents

Record ID: 739640

  • Title: RUSSIA: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin uses his televised New Year greeting to offer seasonal good wishes to his political opponents
  • Date: 1st January 2012
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 31, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KREMLIN AND MOSCOW RIVER / RUSSIAN FLAG
  • Embargoed: 16th January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVABCM7XHH7HLMEZZ84BAU78AGF2
  • Story Text: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin used his televised New Year greeting, broadcast on Saturday (December 31), to offer seasonal good wishes to his political opponents, in an apparent continuation of his softer tone towards the protesters who have staged the biggest political rallies of his 12-year rule.
    "We have finished the Duma elections and we are just about to start the presidential elections - at such times politicians always take advantage of the citizen's feelings, turning them up a bit, keeping them on the boil, but this is the price we pay for democracy, there's nothing unusual here. So in this regard, I would of course like to wish all our citizens, regardless of their political persuasion - whether it's those who support forces on the left, or those who are on the right, on top or below , wherever they are - I want to wish them prosperity and fulfillment," Putin said in a New Year message, filmed in front of a festive tree.
    Earlier this week Putin said he was ready for dialogue with Russia's opposition but was at a loss for a leader to hold talks with.
    Tens of thousands gathered in central Moscow on Saturday to protest against election results that gave Putin's United Russia party a majority in the lower house of parliament, or Duma.
    International monitors said the vote was marred by violations.
    The demonstrators demanded a re-run of the election and a resignation of the Central Election Commission chief Vladimir Churov, Putin's close ally.
    The Kremlin flagged a series of political reforms aimed at pacifying the opposition but said there will not be a re-run of the election.
    Putin, who initially dismissed the demonstrators as paid agents seeking to destabilise Russia in the interests of its external foes, has been gradually changing his tone, admitting that protesters "also deserved respect".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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