MOSCOW (AFP) - - President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned
Russians to vote for his party in elections or face a return to
"humiliation" as a prominent critic accused him of leading Russia
toward dictatorship.
In a televised address, Putin urged voters to back United Russia,
warning that the liberal opposition would return Russia to the
"humiliation, dependency and disintegration" it suffered after the
1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Kremlin leader spoke just hours before former chess champion
turned Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov, just released after five days
in prison, denounced Putin's leadership.
"This regime is entering a very dangerous phase that is turning it
into a dictatorship," Kasparov told journalists.
United Russia is forecast to win a big majority in the State Duma
lower house of parliament in general elections on Sunday. The tiny
liberal parties are not expected to win a single seat and complain
they are victims of heavy-handed Kremlin tactics.
"We should not allow back into power the people who... want to
change and muddle Russia's development plans," Putin said ahead of
the vote.
The 55-year-old Kremlin leader warned against the "dangerous
illusion" of believing his legacy was safe and also appeared to
confirm he would step down next year.
The television address had been closely watched for any sign of
Putin's plans after he completes his second term next year, when
the constitution requires he must relinquish the presidency.
Former chess world champion Kasparov who now leads The Other Russia
opposition coalition vowed to continue fighting Putin's policies
and accused him of resorting to fear and repression ahead of the
weekend vote.
"Fear is the only chance this regime has to survive."
Kasparov complained that he had been denied free access to a lawyer
during the five days that he spent in a Moscow prison for taking
part in an unauthorized rally at the weekend.
Controversy over the fairness of Sunday's polls was growing amid
what Kremlin opponents describe as a crackdown aimed at fixing the
election results.
US President George W. Bush said he was "deeply concerned" at the
break-up of rallies in Moscow and elsewhere in the country. EU
countries and Amnesty International also criticised the
Kremlin.
Although as president he cannot actually take a Duma seat, Putin
heads the electoral list of United Russia, which is presenting the
parliamentary election as a referendum on the ex-KGB officer's
highly popular rule.
Putin has repeatedly said he intends to retain a major role,
prompting speculation that he might hang on to power, or at least
retain influence through a handpicked successor.
"The result of the election will be the preliminary stage for Putin
to make decisions," said Kasparov.
He said Putin would have to decide "whether he is ready to turn
into a full-blown dictator and if he is still trying to pretend
that he has some sort of democratic clout."
Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev also expressed concern in
comments quoted by ITAR-TASS news agency
Calls from United Russia for Putin to stay on as "national leader"
were confusing, he said. "Maybe they have already decided what it
means, or maybe they will surprise us with something else, although
nothing would surprise me."
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
earlier this month called off its election monitoring mission for
the Russian elections, citing a lack of cooperation from Moscow, a
claim Russia denied.
In Madrid, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
Nicholas Burns said Washington firmly opposed a Russian proposal to
reform the OSCE's election monitoring arm -- its Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights -- ODIHR -- because it
would weaken the key body.
"The US will protect ODIHR," Burns told reporters in Madrid, where
he is attending the OSCE's annual meeting.
