Russia

Author(s): Robert Orttung
Editor(s): Arch Puddington, Aili Piano, Camille Eiss, Katrina Neubauer, Tyler Roylance
Book Title: Freedom in the World 2008
Pages: 583-588
Publisher(s): Freedom House
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Place: New York

The 2007 State Duma elections marked a new low in the Kremlin's manipulations of the political process. The authorities sharply restricted outside election observers and ensured that the campaign environment favored Kremlin-backed parties, which won the vast majority of seats. More ominously for Russian democracy, President Vladimir Putin announced that he intended to remain on the political stage after his second term ended in 2008. Putin's continued tenure would benefit the circle of security-agency veterans he has appointed to top positions in the government and state-owned enterprises and set Russia on a firmly authoritarian course. During the year, the authorities continued to place strict limits on opposition political parties, public demonstrations, the media, and nongovernmental organizations, and failed to launch any serious initiatives to address Russia's extensive corruption.

Document (Website)