No. 2088 November 29, 2007 Advancing Freedom in Russia Steven Groves The current Moscow power establishment is The Moscow leadership seems impervious to leading Russia back in time. Instead of moving for- America’s and Europe’s pleas to foster democracy. ward toward a nation that cherishes and protects While the U.S. and its allies wait for a more oppor- freedom and democracy, the establishment is creat- tune time to reengage, they should consider refo- ing a state and body politic dominated by a new cusing their efforts on Russia’s neighbors that are breed of oligarchic groups composed of security willing to democratize. Ultimately, the Russians officers and their business allies. themselves need to realize that they can benefit The Russian media are no longer free and unre- more by integrating into the West and developing stricted. With the exception of a few minor show- democratic institutions that will preserve and pro- case outlets and the Internet, the media are tect their freedoms. dominated by the Kremlin and its allies. The major- On the other hand, Washington cannot ignore ity of political parties are under state control, and Moscow. Too many pressing issues—from Iran and the activities of nongovernmental organizations nuclear proliferation to arms control treaties and the (NGOs) with foreign ties are under severe scrutiny. future of conventional forces in Europe—are on the Russia is no longer a free nation. table. Even during the Soviet era, Washington and A return to authoritarianism is not in the interests Moscow at times had a robust diplomatic engage- of the Russian people, their European neighbors, or ment, despite viewing the world very differently. the world in general. Regrettably, most efforts to pro- Today, many of those differences have diminished as test the Kremlin’s political hegemony are sup- Russia increasingly integrates itself into the global pressed, sometimes violently. Political opponents economy. and media critics of the Kremlin have been censored, The U.S. and its allies should make clear to the intimidated, and at times beaten and even killed. Kremlin and the Russian people that the lack of The Kremlin has created and fostered the growth freedom in the Soviet Union was a major cause of its of scores of nationalist groups to establish “street muscle” and protect itself against an Orange Revo- lution scenario. These include Nashi (ours), the This paper, in its entirety, can be found at: main pro-Putin youth movement, which works to www.heritage.org/research/WorldwideFreedom/bg2088.cfm create the public perception of massive support for Produced by The Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom the current regime and at times takes to the streets Published by The Heritage Foundation 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE to stifle opposition to Kremlin policy. Washington, DC 20002–4999 (202) 546-4400 • heritage.org Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of The Heritage Foundation or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before Congress. No. 2088 November 29, 2007 collapse and that nostalgia for those bygone days is • Prioritize the strengthening of democratic in- severely misguided. stitutions in the former Soviet republics. The What the U.S. Should Do. Since the collapse of United States should make a long-term commit- the Soviet Union, U.S. policy toward Russia has ment to fund the development of democratic assumed a transition to democracy that has not hap- institutions in countries that are amenable to pened and is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable strengthening their young democracies, such as future. While the U.S. government and pro-democ- Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. racy NGOs should continue to work with the Rus- • Apply pressure to Russia through international sian government when possible to strengthen organizations. The United States should coordi- Russia’s beleaguered civil society, U.S. policymakers nate with U.S. allies in international bodies—e.g., should recognize that Russia has chosen a path that the G-8, the Council of Europe, and the Organiza- leads it away from true democracy. tion for Security and Cooperation in Europe—to Russia is unlikely to make significant demo- examine Russia’s performance in freedom, human cratic reforms in the short term, but the United rights, democracy, and the rule of law. States should continue to prepare for a time when Conclusion. At present, proponents of freedom the Russian people realize that a one-party state in and democracy can only hope that the Kremlin’s cur- which all power is consolidated in the executive rent restrictions on the media, NGOs, free speech, branch is not in their best interests. To that end, the and freedom of expression will eventually lose legit- United States should: imacy and stature in the eyes of the Russian people. • Promote a diverse freedom agenda, refocusing Hopefully, the Russian people will come to its efforts on strengthening the Russian NGO understand that their country will stagnate and community in areas where the Kremlin has less decline without true freedom even while it remains of a pretext to interfere: enhancing economic a principal exporter of energy resources and other freedom, supporting human rights, protecting raw materials. Russia and its citizens deserve better press and academic freedoms, and promoting than becoming a Saudi Arabia with a cold climate religious and ethnic tolerance. and nuclear weapons. • Reorganize public diplomacy to reach the Rus- The United States should continue to engage sian people, especially Russia’s young people, Russia on issues of national importance such as more effectively through the Internet—the only energy and national security, but policymakers means of mass communication not yet con- should openly acknowledge that Russia has chosen trolled by the Russian government. not to become a true democracy and is instead • Establish an international Victims of Commu- apparently satisfied with “sovereign democracy.” nism Museum in Washington, D.C., and in Although the United States should not turn its Central Europe. These museums would help to back on Russia, it should refocus its efforts to pro- remind the world of the follies of Communism. mote freedom and democracy on more fertile • Expand student exchange programs. Congress ground elsewhere in the world. and the State Department should double the —Steven Groves is Bernard and Barbara Lomas number of grants awarded through the Freedom Fellow in the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, Support Act to the Future Leaders Exchange a division of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis (FLEX) Program. Institute for International Studies, at The Heritage Foundation. No. 2088 November 29, 2007 Advancing Freedom in Russia Steven Groves The current Moscow power establishment is lead- ing Russia back in time. Instead of moving forward toward a nation that cherishes and protects freedom Talking Points and democracy, the establishment is creating a state • Individual freedom and human rights in and body politic dominated by a new breed of oligar- Russia have declined sharply over the past chic groups composed of security officers and their decade and at an accelerated pace under business allies. President Vladimir Putin. • Russia’s once-robust multiparty system has The Russian media are no longer free and unre- been transformed into a political monopoly stricted. With the exception of a few minor showcase under Putin’s United Russia party, which outlets and the Internet, the media are dominated by controls the Duma. the Kremlin and its allies. The majority of political par- • The Kremlin has silenced opposition voices ties are under state control, and the activities of nongov- by systematically taking over almost all Rus- ernmental organizations (NGOs) with foreign ties are sian media. Journalists widely practice self- under severe scrutiny. Russia is no longer a free nation. censorship due to widespread harassment A return to authoritarianism is not in the interests and intimidation. of the Russian people, their European neighbors, or • The Kremlin has suppressed democratic opposition by cracking down on civil society the world in general. Regrettably, most efforts to pro- organizations and by using nationalist test the Kremlin’s political hegemony are suppressed, groups such as the pro-Kremlin Nashi youth sometimes violently. Political opponents and media group. Several political opponents have critics of the Kremlin have been censored, intimi- been killed under mysterious circumstances. dated, and at times beaten and even killed. • The United States should attempt to stem The Kremlin has created and fostered the growth the decline of freedom in Russia by promot- of scores of nationalist groups to establish “street mus- ing a diverse freedom agenda, strengthen- ing public diplomacy, expanding U.S.– cle” and protect itself against an Orange Revolution Russia student exchanges, and bolstering scenario. These include Nashi (ours), the main pro- democracy-promotion efforts in Ukraine, Putin youth movement, which works to create the Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. public perception of massive support for the current regime and at times takes to the streets to stifle oppo- This paper, in its entirety, can be found at: www.heritage.org/Research/WorldwideFreedom/bg2088.cfm sition to Kremlin policy. Produced by The Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom The Moscow leadership seems impervious to Published by The Heritage Foundation 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE America’s and Europe’s pleas to foster democracy. Washington, DC 20002–4999 (202) 546-4400 • heritage.org Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily reflect- ing the views of The Heritage Foundation or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before Congress. No. 2088 November 29, 2007 While the U.S. and its allies wait for a more oppor- centrist members as the swing voters.2 Parliamen- tune time to reengage, they should consider refo- tary elections in 1993 and 1995 were deemed gen- cusing their efforts on Russia’s neighbors that are erally free and fair and resulted in Dumas in which willing to democratize.