Russia hits out at criticism of democracy record

MOSCOW - Russia hit out at mounting criticism of its democracy record on Thursday, after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Moscow's behaviour raised doubts about its fitness to chair the G8.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, after talks with French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy, responded hotly to a journalist who asked the French minister why he had not joined recent German and US criticism of Russia. "For some reason, your French colleague asked if Philippe wanted to join the criticism of Russia, and did not ask me if I wanted to join the criticism of the United States," Lavrov said, after listing a series of problems in various Western countries.

Rice's critical comments joined similar remarks earlier this week from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said she did not agree with President Vladimir Putin over Chechnya, where Russian troops stand accused of systematic rights violations.

Some Western governments have shown an increasing tendency to criticise Moscow, and Rice was particularly concerned by a new law that brings in tough curbs on Russian non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Critics in the West see Putin's course towards stronger Kremlin control, including subduing the opposition, scrapping gubernatorial polls and clipping the wings of NGOs, as a retreat from democracy.

Rice said some of Russia's latest moves sat uneasily with its role as this year's chairman of the G8 group of industrialised democracies. "I think it's extremely important that Russia understand that certain responsibilities come with ... being the chair of an organisation that is avowedly of industrialised democracies," she said in Washington on Wednesday.

"If you're going to be a part of the G8, you'd better be an industrialised democracy or people are going to have a lot of questions when they show up for the G8 sessions," she said.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement on Thursday that Washington would be scrutinising how the law on NGOs, which Putin signed on Jan. 10, is implemented.

"We urge (the Russian government) to enact regulations that eliminate the possibility for arbitrary implementation and facilitate, rather than hinder, the vital work of NGOs," the statement said.

Lavrov defended Russia's record, and said its laws were in line with international practice. He said parts of the French law on NGOs were in fact "a little tougher" than the new Russian curbs, though he said he doubted anyone would believe him.

Asked about links between French and Russian companies, Douste-Blazy said it was a question for the market -- drawing a sharp response from Lavrov.

"And if I was to say this was a question related only to the companies no one would believe me," Lavrov said.

- REUTERS