The March 6 report criticizes the government in Moscow for centralizing power and for what it calls an erosion of government accountability.
Ella Pamfilova, a human rights adviser to President Vladimir Putin, rejected the report. She says the United States "has ceased to be a trendsetter in the human rights area."
But Lyudmila Alekseyeva, head of the Moscow Helsinki Group, says the U.S. report is objective on the whole.
(Interfax)
Democracy In Russia
Demonstrators in Moscow carry a coffin with a television in it to protest government control over broadcasting (TASS file photo)
DO RUSSIANS LIKE THEIR GOVERNMENT? During a briefing at RFE/RL's Washington office on November 15, Richard Rose, director of the Center for the Study of Public Policy at the University of Aberdeen, discussed the results of 14 surveys he has conducted since 1992 on Russian public opinion about democracy and the country's development. He discussed the implications of these opinions for relations with the West and for Russia's 2008 presidential election.
LISTEN
Listen to the complete discussion (about 42 minutes):Real Audio Windows Media
RELATED ARTICLES
U.S. Election Expected To Chill Relations With Moscow
Are Mayors Next 'Power Vertical' Victim?
Monarchist Nostalgia Remains Powerful
Russian Election Commission Rejects Third-Term Appeal
Romanov Burial May Be Part Of Kremlin Image Campaign
ARCHIVE
All of RFE/RL's English-language coverage of Russia.
UPDATED CONSTANTLY: Visit RFE/RL's Russian-language website, featuring news, analysis, features, streaming audio, and more, in Russian, from RFE/RL's Russian Service.
