European Parliament focuses on political situation in Russia ahead of

STRASBOURG, July 7 (Itar-Tass) -- The political situation in Russia
ahead of the upcoming Duma elections slated for December 2011 was in the
focus of the European Parliament's attention on Wednesday, July 6.
"Russia is already in pre-election mode, with new party alliances and
increasing debate. There are some encouraging signs: President Medvedev is
calling for economic and political modernisation, while Finance Minister
Kudrin insists on free and fair elections," the European Union's High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton said at the
hearings.
At the same time, "political pluralism still faces obstacles", she
noted, referring to the Russian Justice Ministry's refusal on June 22 to
register the new liberal opposition "People's Freedom Party/PARNAS".
"The main reason given for the refusal to register the party was that
a few minors and 'dead souls' had been found among the party's 46,000
members," Ashton recalled.
Another of the Party's leaders, Vladimir Ryzhkov, has rejected these
claims as false or groundless. But even if these people were excluded, he
says, the party would still have the required 45,000 members, she added.
"Ryzhkov's earlier political party, the Republican Party of Russia,
had met a similar fate in 2007, when Russian authorities ordered its
dissolution," the high representative said.
"On 12 April 2011, the European Court of Human Rights here in
Strasbourg ruled that this dissolution was in violation of Article 11 of
the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court also noted that minimum
party membership requirements in Russia are the highest in Europe. The
Court was not persuaded that these requirements are necessary, and
stressed that small minority groups must also have an opportunity to
participate in elections. It said that frequently changing membership
requirements, coupled with regular checks, had imposed a disproportionate
burden on political parties in Russia," Ashton said.
She recalled that "we again emphasised the need for political
pluralism" at the latest EU-Russia Summit and President Dmitry Medvedev
had acknowledged that "a focus on too much stability risks resulting in
stagnation".
"We will continue our engagement, building on our common interests
while standing firmly by our values," Ashton said.