Medvedev: Repression Charges Are Pure Politics

The St. Petersburg Times

Published: November 29, 2012 (Issue # 1737)

Saying the "repressive" label given to new laws on treason and other civil issues is "a pure political tactic," Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev voiced support for the State Duma's reinstating of criminal charges for libel — which overturned one of his own initiatives as president.

In a wide-ranging interview published in Kommersant on Thursday, Medvedev said that while "you shouldn't put people in prison for libel," he agrees with the "new legal construction" that paints libel as "an activity dangerous to society."

Fielding a question about the laws enacted by the State Duma beginning in the spring and particularly since Vladimir Putin's presidential inauguration, Medvedev replied that "these expectations of repression are a pure political tactic."

His word for "tactic" also can be translated in Russian as "ploy."

In addition to libel, the new laws tighten restrictions and increase penalties for treason, unsanctioned protests and Internet content deemed illicit by government agencies. The Duma also passed legislation forcing nongovernmental organizations that receive foreign funding to declare themselves "foreign agents."

Medvedev did warn, however, that those people advocating a reprisal of 1930s tactics — a group that includes both older citizens and youth, he said — fail to grasp the reach of such measures.

"I repeat my position: The majority of people who extol those times absolutely can't imagine what happened," he said, referring to the Great Terror. "It's very easy to extol tyranny when you know that they aren't coming for you at night, aren't shooting you without a trial and investigation, won't put you in jail for 25 years on a false accusation."

Alluding to the giant demonstrations in December 2011 against election fraud in that month's State Duma contests, Medvedev said "the fact that society's demands grew during the elections in 2011 is proof of the maturation of our civil society."

In the 8,000-word interview with the business daily, Medvedev also discussed the recent ousters of Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Regional Development Minister Oleg Govorun.

The quick firing of the regional minister just six months after he got the job was a necessary move and Govorun shouldn't take the firing personally, Medvedev said.

"A person in a public position — the position of a minister — has to understand that he is the object of attention and criticism, including from the president or the head of government," the prime minister said. "And he must deal with this more calmly."

Govorun was fired by Putin in what many political analysts viewed as the president overpowering the prime minister.