Russia does not have the same kind of democracy as in other European countries

Russia does not have the same kind of democracy as in other European countries, Finland’s Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has said. Russia has democratic institutions, but the way that they work is not the same as in other countries of Western Europe, he said.

Vanhanen made his comments in Brussels in a joint interview with three Nordic newspapers: Helsingin Sanomat, the Swedish Dagens Nyheter, and the Danish Politiken.
“They say themselves that they have a democracy of their own kind. I don’t remember the exact definitions”, Vanhanen said when asked if there is a functioning democracy in Russia.

“It is not the same kind of democracy as in other European countries. Russia has democratic institutions, but the way that they work is not the same as we have in Western Europe.”

Vanhanen was cautious in his assessment of democratic development in Russia.

“Our experiences in the development of democratic models of action and political parties are from 100 years back, and it is not easy to give advice on it. It is important for Russia to adhere to its commitments in the development of democracy.”

Vanhanen again rejected criticism over the invitation of Russia’s President Putin to a dinner during the unofficial European Union summit in Lahti on Friday.

The visit comes at a sensitive time. In addition to the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, Russia has come under increasing criticism from the West over its treatment of neighboring Georgia.

Vanhanen said that thorny issues will also come up in Lahti, even though the main topics to be discussed with Putin are partnership questions and energy.

“If these questions are to be discussed, the only way to do it is to arrange an opportunity for a discussion”, he said.

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