Putin critical over state reforms
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The Russian leader criticises his government and regional authorities over the scrapping of the Soviet-era benefits system.
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MOSCOW Russia&#39;s foreign minister on Wednesday defended sweeping political changes announced earlier this week by President Vladimir Putin, telling the United States and other critics that the plans were an internal matter.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday his government had bungled the implementation of changes to the country's creaking social security system but stood by the reform despite week-long protests by pensioners.
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Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday he had concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin's sweeping political changes and said Russia was backing away from some past democratic reforms.
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President Vladimir Putin has announced new measures to strenghten the governments power in tackling the fight against terrorism. In a cabinet meeting today, Putin blamed Russian authorities for being inefficient
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President Vladimir Putin's moves to tighten control over legislators and regional leaders has jeopardized the Kremlin's grip on the nation, analysts said, pointing to widespread protests over legislation replacing benefits for millions of Russians with cash stipends.
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MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking steps to further strengthen the central government&#39;s control over the nation&#39;s political life.
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Russia's first post-Soviet president Boris Yeltsin issued a veiled warning that President Vladimir Putin's decision to hand sweeping new powers to the Kremlin in the wake of the Beslan hostage crisis could roll back democratic freedoms.
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MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin on Monday demanded an overhaul of Russia's political system, including an end to the direct popular election of governors, saying the changes were needed to combat terrorism.    Critics charged the Russian leader was using the bloody outcome of the Beslan school siege to grab more power...
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His promise of a safer Russia looking hollow after a week of disasters, President Vladimir Putin may now put his traumatised country under even tighter control, political analysts say.
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President Vladimir Putin told Russia's state security service on Wednesday to raise its guard against outside attempts to meddle in a March election which is expected to bring to power his hand-picked successor.
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MOSCOW  - President Vladimir Putin sought to convince the nation Thursday that his electoral reform was not a retreat from democracy but was needed to save Russia from international terrorists and to limit the political influence of business barons. Putin said in a nationwide television interview his plan to end direct elections of regional governors and parliament deputies will help strengthen the government, which he said was being eroded by ethnic divisions and turf battles between local clans.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin throws a question mark over the future of Yukos, saying state-owned companies should be allowed to buy the oil firm's assets.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on  Monday his government had bungled the implementation of changes  to the country's creaking social security system but stood by  the reform despite week-long protests by pensioners.
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President Vladimir Putin tried yesterday to put an end to fears of a further state clampdown on big business in Russia by saying that the state should &quot;guarantee private property&quot;, while also demanding that firms pay more towards poverty reduction and
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The Russian leader today called for new measures that include the naming of regional governors and an overhaul of the electoral system.
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MOSCOW, December 23 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin believes there is a need for work in shifts in the districts in north of Russia, where the conditions of life are hard.