RUSSIA: Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West yesterday of fomenting revolution across the former Soviet Union and applying double standards to the running of elections and the fight against terror.
After suffering a diplomatic defeat over Ukraine's controversial elections, where his favoured candidate looks likely to lose a December 26th re-run, Mr Putin also lambasted US assertions that war-ravaged Iraq could hold a free and fair poll next month.
"It's extremely dangerous to try to resolve political problems outside the framework of the law; first there was the 'rose revolution', and then they'll think up something like 'blue'," Mr Putin said, referring to the popular uprising in Georgia last year that became known for the rose petals that demonstrators scattered in victory.
"If you have permanent revolutions you risk plunging the post-Soviet space into endless conflict," Mr Putin warned, adding that some US allies seemed intent on "isolating" Russia and eroding its power in its traditional sphere of influence.
He selected Poland, and its President, Mr Alexander Kwasniewski, for particular criticism, after he was quoted as saying this month that the US and other nations believed that "Russia without Ukraine is a better solution than Russia with Ukraine".
"I was extremely surprised when I saw this interview. We have had very good relations with Alexander, he is an experienced man and he's known in Russia for joint Komsomol work," Mr Putin said, making pointed reference to Mr Kwasniewski's former role with Poland's branch of the Communist Youth League.
"If we interpret this as a striving to limit Russia's ability to develop relations with its neighbours, then it signifies a desire to isolate the Russian Federation," Mr Putin added.
He said such a policy would help explain what he calls the "double standards" that the West employs in prosecuting the "war on terror" while criticising Russia's campaign in separatist Chechnya, which he insists is rife with foreign, Islamic fighters.
"I don't think [Russian isolation] is the goal of US policy," the former KGB spy said guardedly.
"But if it is, then the position on Chechnya becomes more understandable. It would mean that a policy is being conducted that aims at creating elements that would destabilise the Russian Federation."
Almost a year into a second Kremlin term, Mr Putin rejected foreign criticism of a legal crackdown on the Yukos oil firm, the emasculation of much of Russia's mass media and allegations of huge fraud in elections in Chechnya and other regions.
While calling President George W Bush a "decent, consistent person", he railed against his plans for January elections in Iraq. "We do not understand how there can be an election in a country under conditions of total occupation," he said.
