Cheney: Russia Is Limiting Rights

Vice President Touts Democracy, Slams Russian 'Opponents Of Reform'

(AP)  Vice President Dick Cheney accused Vladimir Putin's Russia on Thursday of restricting the rights of its citizens, and said "no legitimate interest is served" by turning energy resources into implements of blackmail.

"In Russia today, opponents of reform are seeking to reverse the gains of the last decade," Cheney told a conference of Eastern European leaders whose countries once lived under Soviet oppression, and now in Russia's shadow.

Cheney's speech blended praise for the progress Eastern European countries have made toward democracy since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, with an exhortation to continue on the same path.

"The democratic unity of Europe ensures the peace of Europe," he said.

He said Russia has a choice to make when it comes to reform, and said that in many areas, "from religion and the news media to advocacy groups and political parties, the government has unfairly and improperly restricted the rights of the people."

Other actions "have been counterproductive and could begin to affect relations with other countries," Cheney said, mentioning energy and border issues.

"No legitimate interest is served when oil and gas become tools of intimidation or blackmail, either by supply manipulation or attempts to monopolize transportation," he said.

"And no one can justify actions that undermine the territorial integrity of a neighbor, or interfere with democratic movements."

It was among the strongest remarks that any U.S. official has made publicly about Putin's leadership style. The Bush administration for the most part has tried to play down, at least publicly, any strong differences with Putin.

Cheney met with Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus Wednesday to promote democracy, a key agenda in the Bush administration.

When sitting down with "This is an opportunity for all of us to rededicate ourselves" to the advance of freedom, the vice president said Wednesday as he sat down for talks with the Lithuanian president.

Russia rattled nerves across Europe last winter when the state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom cut off supplies of natural gas to Ukraine. An agreement eventually ended the impasse, but it raised questions of Russia's dependability as a supplier of energy.

Gazprom supplies about one-quarter of the natural gas consumed in Europe and 80 percent of that goes through Ukraine.

Officials said the remark concerning territorial integrity was meant to apply to Georgia and Moldova, both former portions of the Soviet Union where the administration says Russia is playing an unhelpful role in solving separatist conflicts.

Cheney spoke to the Vilnius Conference, a gathering of leaders from the Baltic and Black Sea regions.

The vice president blended his criticism of Putin with a reaffirmation of President Bush's decision to attend this summer's Group of 8 summit meeting in Russia.