Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, defended the country’s human rights record and claimed that Russia has no political prisoners, the Associated Press reported from St. Petersburg on Monday.
The statements come in light of a controversial bill which is expected to be voted into law on Tuesday which would increase fines for unsanctioned rallies 200-fold. Putin while talking to a reporter at an EU summit in St Petersburg called the bill “democratic” and similar to European legislation. However critics are accusing United Russia, the ruling party, of destroying democratic freedoms.
Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of Yabloko – a liberal opposition party – said while being arrested at a protest against the bill, “A direct signal is being made by those in power: sit down and keep quiet!”
“United Russia is attacking the last of our more or less functioning democratic rights,” said Vadim Solovyov, Communist Party lawmaker.
Putin has also denied knowledge of anyone that could be described as political prisoners, despite the circulation of a list of names described as such by Opposition leaders. At least a hundred people on this list are believed to be persecuted for their political views.
The Russian leader has also come under criticism for refusing to condemn President Assad’s crackdown in Syria, which has impeded the UN from taking significant action in the region.
