EU warns Putin against increasing power

The EU yesterday warned Russian president Vladimir Putin that he must not use the fight against terrorism to increase his powers in the Federation.

However, the Russian government curtly rejected US and European criticism.

The stark warning followed the announcement by Mr Putin that he will abolish elections for regional governors and change the electoral system to the Duma (Parliament), which some see as an effort to stymie opposition parties.

The president has linked this development to recent terrorist attacks, including the murder of over 326 people, half of them children, in a school in Northern Ossetia, which are being blamed on Chechen separatists.

EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten yesterday echoed concerns voiced by the US over Mr Putin’s policy.

Addressing the European Parliament’s 732 members on the deaths in the school in Beslan, Mr Patten said any lasting resolution of the Chechnya tragedy depends on the pursuit of far-sighted, humane and resolute policies in Moscow.

“I hope that they are forthcoming and that the government of the Russian Federation will not conclude that the only answer to terrorism is to increase the power of the Kremlin. Frankly, there is not much good history on the side of that proposition,” he said.