Putin defends Russia's human rights record

[June 04, 2012]  ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) -- Under pressure from the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday defended his country's human rights record, lauding a draconian bill hiking fines for unsanctioned street rallies and claiming that Russia has no political prisoners.

Grilled by a reporter about his crackdown on the opposition, Putin said at an EU summit in St. Petersburg that the country's controversial law on rallies is "democratic" and claimed it was similar to legislation in Europe.

Putin, who served as Russia's president in 2000-2008, stepped down in 2008 because of term limitations. He was sworn in for this third term in office in May amid growing discontent with his policies and massive street protests. Small protests have lingered, while Putin's party has submitted draft legislation that would increase fines 200-fold for those taking part in unsanctioned rallies. The bill is expected to be voted into a law on Tuesday.

Asked about the Russian opposition's demand to free political prisoners, Putin said he has no knowledge of the people who could be described that way. Opposition leaders have circulated a list of names of people they describe as political prisoners, which include at least a hundred people who are suspected to be persecuted because of their political views.

Putin made the remarks after a meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Their summit follows Putin's visit to Germany and France last weekend when German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed Putin to allow "democratic diversity" to develop in Russia.

Putin has also widely been criticized in the West for his refusal to strongly condemn Syrian President Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown.

[Associated Press]

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