 |
Former Russian president Boris Yeltsin and his
wife Naina. Russia's first post-Soviet leader Yeltsin issued a
veiled warning that President Vladimir Putin's decision to hand
sweeping new powers to the Kremlin in the wake of the Beslan hostage
crisis could roll back democratic freedoms.
(AFP) |
Former Russian president Boris Yeltsin has made a
veiled
criticism of his successor's decision to increase his powers after
the Beslan tragedy.
Mr Yeltsin said that the rolling back of
democratic rights in Russia would be tantamount
to victory for terrorists.
President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced plans to abolish direct
elections for regional governors and change voting rules for parliament.
The proposals may need constitutional change, but Mr Putin denies such
plans.
However, he said the changes were important to bolster central
authority after a series of terrorist acts in recent weeks culminating in
the school siege in which more than 300 people died.
Meanwhile Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the lower
house of parliament, the State Duma, said the chamber would discuss
lifting a moratorium
on the
death penalty for cases of terrorism introduced by Mr Yeltsin.
"This question has been raised by many members of society, citizens and
deputies," he said, adding that he supported the moratorium. "The
situation compels us to return again and again to this topic."
In an interview to be published in Friday's
edition of the newspaper Moscow News, Mr Yeltsin said Russia should not
move away from the spirit or the letter of the constitution he introduced
in 1993, and which was approved in a national referendum
.
"The stifling of freedoms and the rolling back of democratic rights
will mean, among other things, that the terrorists will have won," he
said.
The 73-year-old former president said he expected
Russia "to stand shoulder to shoulder with other civilised nations" in the fight
against terrorism.
(Agencies) |