All news

Ukrainian scenario impossible in Russia

Russia has a different president, a different society and different political forces, says vice-speaker of the Russian State Duma lower house of parliament

MOSCOW, February 25. /ITAR-TASS/. The vice-speaker of the Russian State Duma lower house of parliament, Vladimir Vassilyev, said on Tuesday that he believed “the Ukrainian scenario” was impossible in Russia.

“I am seriously concerned about a surmise and coincidence that suggest themselves. Do you remember the situation of the first wave of terrorism in our country, when we saw acts of terror, hostage taking and house blasts?” he said, addressing a parliamentary session.

“It took 9/11 for the whole world to realize the danger of terrorism and the fact that it is sometimes disguised behind the toga of national-liberation movement. Now we have realized this,” the parliamentarian added.

“What happened in Ukraine? People, many of whom are obscure and not known, as well as even not political movements, but certain groups created an atmosphere of fear through arson, violence and murders,” he said. “And the situation went as far as to seizing power. This is an appalling example for many,” Vassilyev added.

“It is extremely bad that the [Ukrainian] president failed to fulfil his duty,” he continued. “Now people wonder what is going on there and whether the same is possible here,” the parliamentarian said, adding that he believed such developments were impossible in Russia. “We have a different president, a different society and different political forces,” he said.

“We have 75 parties that compete, and 11 parties will participate in the elections in accordance with the law [on the election of State Duma deputies] signed by the president, while 50% of mandates will be contested by rank-and-file people [in single-seat constituencies]", he said.

“We have already done a lot for the unity in this hall. The country will be uniting its best people irrespective of their political views,” the vice speaker said.

He wished the forces that had assumed responsibility in Ukraine “to first of all ensure human rights and comply with international commitments,” saying that Russian parliamentarians would “closely watch the developments” in Ukraine and react.