Putin: I’m the only ‘pure’ democrat

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has described himself as the world’s only “pure” democrat and accused the United States and Europe of falling short of their own ideals.

In an interview with western media released yesterday, he rejected western criticism that he has centralised power in the Kremlin, marginalised the opposition and increased state control over the media.

Asked whether he agreed with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s description of him as an “impeccable democrat,” Mr Putin laughed. “Of course I am an absolute, pure democrat. But you know the problem? It’s not even a problem, it’s a real tragedy. The thing is that I am the only one, there just aren’t any others in the world.”