Kremlin Told Bush Not To Meddle In Russia Politics

Russia on Wednesday warned U.S. President George W. Bush not to use concerns about democracy in Russia.

Russia on Wednesday warned U.S. President George W. Bush not to use concerns about democracy in Russia as a pretext for unwelcome meddling in its domestic politics.

"We would disagree with concerns regarding the so-called rollback of democracy," Kremlin deputy spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Germany.

"We wouldn't welcome any intention on the U.S. side to interfere in Russian elections. We consider it a domestic affair of Russia," added Peskov.

Bush is to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for bilateral talks on the sidelines of a Group of Eight summit in Germany and has signalled he will raise concerns that Putin is eroding democratic freedoms.

Washington, together with European Union governments, say Putin has harmed democracy by centralising power in the Kremlin while squeezing dissent.

Critics point to the abolition of direct elections for regional governors, tough new laws restricting foreign funding of non-governmental organisation, and frequent bans on Kremlin opponents holding street protests.

"Of course we are not a perfect country in everything and our democracy is not perfect," said Peskov.

"We are ready to listen to the criticism ... but at the same time we feel we have the right to expect our partners to listen to our concerns and there are also a great deal of concerns from our side," he said.

Putin has in the past countered criticism of Russian democracy by pointing to problems in other countries, including treatment of detainees at the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay base and crackdowns on rioting protesters in Europe.

The Kremlin is sensitive about possible foreign interference in part because Russia is facing key elections over the next nine months: a parliamentary vote in December and a presidential election next March to choose Putin's replacement.

Under Russia's constitution, Putin must step down next year when his second and final term ends.