Medvedev warns 'extremists' over Russia protests

Russia: President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday warned that “extremists” were seeking to whip up instability in Russia through the protest wave that has rattled the Kremlin after disputed parliamentary polls.

In his last annual address to the nation before his expected handover of power to Vladimir Putin next year, Medvedev sternly vowed that Russia would not allow the West to interfere in its biggest outburst of protests in years.

But seeking to acknowledge that the mood in the nation was changing after 12 years of dominance by Putin, he proposed a range of political reforms including the resumption of direct elections of local governors.

“Attempts to manipulate Russian citizens, lead them astray and incite strife in society are unacceptable,” he said, two days ahead of a new opposition protest in Moscow expected to rally tens of thousands.

“We will not allow provocateurs and extremists to drag society into their schemes,” Medvedev said, adding: “We will not allow interference from outside in our internal affairs.” “Russia needs democracy and not chaos,” said Medvedev.

Medvedev's annual address to both houses of parliament came after December 4 parliamentary elections that showed an unexpectedly sharp drop in support for the ruling party and were followed by mass demonstrations against vote-rigging.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets a week after the elections to protest the conduct of the polls while almost 40,000 people have vowed on Facebook to attend a new rally in Moscow on Saturday.

AFP