Putin Defends Reforms, Condemns 'Revolutions'
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Russian President Vladimir Putin today used his annual Kremlin press conference to address many of the issues that made headlines in Russia and abroad in 2004.
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US President George W Bush criticises Russia for "derailing" promised democratic reforms.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the West of applying "double standards" in democratic elections, including Ukraine's presidential poll.
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MOSCOW. Dec. 23 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday accused the United States and the European Union of employing "double standards" in disputing the results of last month's Ukrainian presidential elections.
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In a rare show of dissent in the Kremlin-controlled parliament, a former KGB officer-turned-lawmaker launched a scathing attack on President Vladimir Putin's electoral reform, saying Thursday it was pushing the nation back to its authoritarian past.
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President Vladimir Putin put sweeping political reforms in motion Monday, sending to Russia's parliament a bill on eliminating the popular election of regional governors and district parliament races.
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President Bush on Wednesday urged  Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to "uphold the principles  of democracy" in a carefully worded message expressing concern  about Putin's proposed political reforms.
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President Vladimir Putin criticized  Washington's plans for an anti-missile system in Central Europe  and said on Thursday Russia would come up with a "highly  effective" response.
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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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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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MUNICH, Germany  - Russian President Vladimir Putin harshly criticized the United States and other Western nations on Saturday for what he said was an attempt to force their will on the rest of the world and make it "unipolar".
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President Vladimir Putin outlined plans Monday to "radically" change the Russian political system in a way that would increase his own power, portraying the moves as a means of combating terrorism.
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Russia will remain on the path of democracy and a market economy, President Vladimir Putin vowed, despite controversial political reforms strengthing central authority over the country.
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Former Russian president Boris Yeltsin indirectly criticises President Putin's decision to increase his powers.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said  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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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Western countries observe double standards when they call Chechen separatists rebels instead of terrorists, the Independent reported.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said  Thursday he had no plans to grab more power or change the  constitution when reforming Russia's government structure,  dismissing fears in the West he is watering down democracy.