Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MOSCOW10013
2006-09-10 08:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

RUSSIAN FEDERATION COUNCIL CHAIRMAN ON US,

Tags:  PREL PHUM PGOV RS 
pdf how-to read a cable
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 100828Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1979
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 010013 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN FEDERATION COUNCIL CHAIRMAN ON US,
EXTREMISM LAW, INTERNAL POLITICS

REF: MOSCOW 9817

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns: 1.5 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 010013

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN FEDERATION COUNCIL CHAIRMAN ON US,
EXTREMISM LAW, INTERNAL POLITICS

REF: MOSCOW 9817

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns: 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In advance of his trip to the US to
commemorate 9/11, Russian Federation Council Chairman Sergey
Mironov previewed with the Ambassador a fall legislative
effort to amend the Law on Extremism. Mironov said the
reaction to the announced merger of leftist political parties
was enthusiastic, but discounted the ability of Russia's
beleaguered "democrats" to get beyond leadership differences
in time to compete successfully for the 2007 Duma. Mironov
took issue with criticism of Russia, praised Putin's
reassertion of Russian national interests, reaffirmed the
need for US-Russian partnership, and welcomed further
US-Russia senatorial exchanges. While Mironov appears to be
an obedient player in the political competition being readied
for the 2007 and 2008 elections, it will be important to
monitor whether the populist appeal of the leftist parties'
platform challenges the management of Russia's democracy.
End Summary

U.S. Visit; 9/11 remembrance
--------------


2. (SBU) In a September 8 meeting with the Ambassador,
Federation Council Chairman Sergey Mironov reviewed his trip
to the United States for the New Jersey dedication of the
statue by Russian sculpture Zurab Tsereteli in honor of the
victims of 9/11. Mironov said he would meet with CFR
President Richard Haass, hold his second conversation with
Henry Kissinger, conduct an interview with the Washington
Times, anticipated a meeting with UNSYG Annan, and would wrap
up his short visit with a press conference before
Russian-American journalists. The events of 9/11, he
underscored, were a tragedy that had served to unite the US
and Russia. Mironov noted Putin's personal interest in the
dedication.

On the Agenda: Amending the Extremism Law
--------------


3. (C) Beyond the traditional focus on the budget, Mironov
confirmed that the Federation Council would take up
amendments to the Law on Extremism -- a law that Mironov
characterized as necessary, but excessive. In particular,

criticism of the government should not qualify as extremism.
The Ambassador welcomed this initiative, noting that the
recent outburst of racial tensions and violence in Karelia
highlighted situations where there would be sharp differences
of opinion on the performance of the government that
constituted legitimate and normal political dialogue.

New Opposition Leftist Party Takes Root
--------------


4. (C) Now was the time and place, Mironov explained, to
create a new, powerful political party that would not be a
pale imitation of the party of power, United Russia. The
platform of the newly merged three parties (reftel) would
focus on the protection of workers, particularly civil
servants, with a special emphasis on the needs of the retired
military, who left the service in the prime of life, but were
poorly equipped to adjust to the civilian workplace and
unable to live on their miserly pensions. The union of
political parties was necessary to combat the monopolization
of political life by United Russia. Consultations were going
well, with chapters already present in half of the federal
jurisdictions. In contrast to United Russia, Mironov noted,
his party would need to rely on the popular support of the
Russian people, rather than administrative resources. To
date, Mironov expressed satisfaction at the enthusiasm
generated by the announcement of the merger.

Liberal Rightist Forces in Disarray, Few Prospects
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Mironov was pessimistic about the prospects for
unity among the "democrats," noting that there was no end to
the long-running soap opera of divisions within the political
leadership of Yabloko, SPS, and the Republican Party.
Comparing the relatively seamless cooperation between the
three newly merged political parties (and fresh from a trip
with new party cohort and Rodina party Chairman Babakov to
Astrakhan),Mironov said the rightists were plagued both by
leadership disputes, as well as by a lack of resonance among
the Russian public. Complicating the issue was the fact that
United Russia already espoused many of the "rightist"
economic principles championed by the democrats, narrowing
the political field open to them. Mironov concluded that the
rightist political parties had zero chance of crossing the

MOSCOW 00010013 002 OF 002


threshold into the 2007 Duma.

Defense of Putin, Umbrage at Misguided US Criticism
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Mironov noted Putin's optimism about relations with
the United States, but took issue with sharp comments
emanating from the US political establishment on trends in
Russia. Russia was an independent, sovereign country that
had its own national interests to protect, just as America
was an "imperial" power, with interests that would sometimes
lead it in a separate direction. Mironov underscored the
pragmatic basis of Russian foreign policy, its embrace of
flexible alliances, and its espousal of multiple vectors and
poles in international relations. The GOR, he stressed,
sought partnership with the US, at the same time that it
would protect its own sphere of influence. He praised Putin
for not being afraid to articulate Russian national interests
and reassert GOR influence, at the same time that he sought
to strengthen the US-Russia partnership. The world was not
well-served by unipolarity. The GOR emphasis, Mironov
repeated, would be on Russia's national interests, with
active pursuit of relations in southeast Asia, Europe and
Latin America.


7. (C) The Ambassador explained that criticism from
American leaders and the US foreign policy establishment
reflected real concern over the growing concentration of
power in the Kremlin and the weakness of institutions
critical to providing healthy democratic checks and balances.
Mironov responded that the US misinterpreted political
developments within Russia, pointing to the debate that
erupted following the Kremlin decision to appoint, rather
than elect, Governors. Mironov recalled his visit to Canada,
where he claimed that the distribution of power between the
center and the provinces made leaders sympathetic to Russian
concerns over the dilution of federal authority. No country,
Mironov said (alluding to the Yeltsin legacy) could tolerate
the dissolution of its authority; no country, he repeated,
voluntarily divested itself of influence over its territory.
The relationship between the President and the Governors was
now healthy. Without reforms, Mironov insisted, Russia would
not function. Mironov, pointing to criticism and debates in
the mass media, and unfettered access to internet, dismissed
criticism of government encroachment in the media.


8. (C) Mironov underscored the sea change in attitude among
Russians, who in the depths of the 1990's used to refer to
Russia as "this country," rather than "my country."
Etymology reflected the psychology of the moment, he
underscored. Now there was palpable pride in the fact that
Russia was able to assert itself and its interests in
international relations, as well as a sense of common
purpose. Materially, intellectually, and culturally, the
country was moving forward. The Ambassador responded that
his interlocutors often accused the US of underestimating
what Russians had overcome in the 1990s. However, while
there may be elements of competition in Russian and US
relations, both countries benefited from cooperation--
including, between members of the legislative branches.
Mironov agreed, and said he looked forward to the potential
return visit of Senator Lott to Russia, as part of the
US-Russia senatorial exchange.

Comment
--------------


9. (C) Mironov defines the "loyal opposition," whose
political prominence has been more a function of his
friendship with Putin than his dynamism on the hustings.
While the verdict is out on the degree to which the union of
leftist parties will fare among regional leaders looking to
curry favor with the party of power, its populist appeal to
those elements of society who believe that the windfall oil
wealth of Russia has not trickled down could resonate. The
provincial elections and the leadup to the 2007 Duma
elections will provide the first evidence of whether managed
democracy produces any surprises. End Comment
BURNS