Leaders ramp up rhetoric ahead of Russian elections

RUSSIA’S LEADERS are promoting national unity and robust foreign policy ahead of a general election that threatens to weaken their vice-like grip on power.

President Dmitry Medvedev warned this week that Russia could take strong military measures against a planned US missile defence system in central Europe, while the prime minister, Vladimir Putin, urged MPs and society at large to unite to combat dangerous “crisis conditions”.

Their rhetoric intensified as polls predicted the ruling United Russia party would easily win next Sunday’s ballot, but could lose enough seats to forfeit its two-thirds constitutional majority, a surprise given the party’s domination of media, funding and other electoral resources.

Mr Medvedev said unless the US reached agreement with Moscow on the missile defence system, Russia would station missiles on its western and southern flanks and develop ways of destroying the rocket shield’s command and control infrastructure.

Among other measures, the Kremlin might also withdraw from a recently signed strategic arms-reduction treaty with Washington, Mr Medvedev added, complaining that the US had failed to convince him the missile shield would not pose a threat to Russia.

Mr Medvedev – who is expected to swap posts with Mr Putin after next March’s presidential election – delivered the warning in an unusually strongly worded address on state television, prompting analysts to suggest it was a move to drum up support for the authorities.

With Washington keen to enlist Russia’s help in dealing with Iran and Syria, this could be an opportune time for the Kremlin to seek US concessions on missile defence.

As Mr Medvedev warned of military threats to Russia, Mr Putin sought to stiffen support for United Russia with unusually candid comments about the country’s economic and social woes.

“We have a great many uncertainties and risks ahead and in a storm, in a gale, in crisis conditions, it is very important that the whole team works in a co-ordinated way so that the ship does not capsize,” Mr Putin told parliament.

“The stability of the country, its sovereignty, the prosperity of its people are things which should push party interests, any clan or group interests to the back,” he said, urging Russia’s feeble opposition not to destabilise society and insisting that the authorities must “hold the tiller firmly”.

Recent surveys predict United Russia will win 250-265 of parliament’s 450 seats, down from 315 at the moment.

Mr Putin suggested that any weakening of his allies’ power would damage the country.

“These things happening in European countries and the United States are the result of a lack of consolidation in society, when leading political forces cannot agree between each other,” he said.

He claimed that a more diverse parliament would hamper decision-making and “bring us close to the line already crossed by our partners in the European Union . . .”

“In this respect, I would like to draw your attention to the need to achieve the best result,” he told United Russia members.