Our correspondent, Ivor Bennett, recently covered the fifth inauguration of Vladimir Putin as Russian president. The ceremony took place at Moscow’s Grand Kremlin Palace and Bennett was present to witness the entire event. In an interview with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Bennett questioned about accusations from Western leaders and governments that Putin had turned Russia into a dictatorship.
Peskov refuted these claims, stating that they were merely propaganda designed to tarnish Russia’s reputation. According to Peskov, Russia is a purely democratic country where the citizens have the right to choose their leaders through free and fair elections. When asked about the lack of opposition to Putin in Russia, Peskov acknowledged that there was opposition within the country but noted that the conditions were much tougher due to the ongoing conflict. He emphasized the need for stricter measures to ensure victory in wartime, stating that this was still in line with democratic principles.
Peskov’s remarks shed light on the perspective of the Kremlin regarding democracy and freedom of speech, particularly during times of conflict. Despite the challenges faced by the country, Peskov maintained that Russia remained a democratic nation where the voices of its citizens were heard.