Bush Defends Relationship with Putin Amid Growing Concerns Over Democratization

Strategic Insights -

President Bush on Monday declared that he has a "good personal relationship" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite growing concerns over Putin's crackdown on political freedoms and his role in the disputed election in Ukraine. Bush made no comment on Ukraine, where Putin's influence has been a subject of international scrutiny, and instead emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive and friendly relationship with Russia. This stance comes as Freedom House, a non-partisan group promoting democracy worldwide, downgraded Russia from "partly free" to "not free" status, citing a growing trend under Putin to concentrate power, harass the media, and politicize the law-enforcement system.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Bush has a "good personal relationship" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite growing concerns over Putin's actions.
  • Bush made no comment on Ukraine, where Putin's influence has been a subject of international scrutiny.
  • Russia was downgraded to "not free" status by Freedom House, a non-partisan group promoting democracy worldwide.
  • Putin's Russia is experiencing its lowest marks since 1989, before the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.
  • The United States has a key ally in combating terrorist cells in central Asia, however this does not justify overlooking Putin's crackdown on democracy.
  • Freedom House attributed Russia's decline to a growing trend under Putin to concentrate power, harass the media, and politicize the law-enforcement system.

Statistics:

  • 1989: Russia's last "not free" status before the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 (Freedom House).
  • 1991: The Soviet Union dissolved, replaced by the Commonwealth of Independent States (Freedom House).
  • 2001: Bush met Putin for the first time in June, stating he was able to get a sense of Putin's soul (Bush quote).
  • 21 Nov: Election runoff in which Yanukovych was first called the winner due to widespread fraud in Ukraine (Freedom House).
  • 2004: February, expected meeting between Bush and Putin, likely in Slovakia, during a trip to NATO and European capitals (Bush).

Sources:

  • [Bill Nichols, WASHINGTON -- President Bush declined to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday]
  • [Freedom House, "Russia's Step Backward into the Not-Free Category"]
  • [Bush, quotes from meeting with Putin in June 2001 and on Monday]