RUSSIAN CIVIL society leaders will appeal to US president Barack Obama to focus a spotlight on the country’s democratic deficit and lack of transparency.
Mr Obama plans to dedicate several hours to dozens of organisations, entrepreneurs and NGOs who operate in Russia as part of his two-day visit – a session his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev turned down, sources said.
After signing a series of bilateral agreements yesterday, including on nuclear arms reduction and Afghanistan, Mr Obama said he would turn his attention to more human issues.
“I look forward to broadening this effort, to include business, civil society, dialogue among Americans and Russians,” he said.
US leaders’ comments on Russian democracy and civil society have received a cold reception in the past. But Mr Medvedev, since becoming president just over a year ago, has made repeated pledges to improve civil society and encourage openness and pluralism in both the business and social spheres.
One of his proposals, the easing of restrictions placed on NGOs operating in Russia, was passed last week ahead of Mr Obama’s visit.
Though Mr Medvedev has cultivated an image as a liberal, analysts say he has made very few substantive changes.
“Anti-westernism” and “authoritarianism” remain dangerous for both democracy and business in Russia, said Lyudmila Alexeyeva, the head of the influential Moscow Helsinki Group, Russia’s oldest non-governmental organisation.
Several of those who will attend today’s meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mr Medvedev had turned down an invitation to join Mr Obama for the session.
“The president [Medvedev] does not need to be in the presence of other presidents in order to discuss civil society in his country,” Itar-Tass news agency quoted a Kremlin source as saying yesterday.
The Kremlin declined to comment. – (Reuters)