Russian democracy should be advanced through dialogue with all political forces, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
“I’m sure that a democratic political system should guarantee not only the legitimacy of the ruling authority but also public confidence that it is just and can protect the interests of the majority while minority interests should also be respected and reasonably protected,” he told the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
He cited the recent facilitation of the party registration rules, which enabled different social forces to uphold their positions within the bounds of the law.
The president vowed to advance “our democratic mechanisms further,” adding, however, that it is important for society to realize which institutions may and which may not be changed.
“Striving for change is without doubt an engine of progress. But it becomes counterproductive and even dangerous if it destabilizes civil peace and the state itself,” he said.
