Support The Moscow Times!

Medvedev Says Tandem Follows 'Liberator'

Medvedev laying flowers at the tomb of Tsar Alexander II ?€” ?€?the Liberator?€? ?€” in a St. Petersburg cathedral. Dmitry Astakhov

ST. PETERSBURG — President Dmitry Medvedev used the 150th anniversary of the abolition of serfdom in Russia to cast himself as a champion of reform on Thursday but said steps toward broader democracy will be cautious.

Steered into office in 2008 by his predecessor Vladimir Putin, now prime minister, Medvedev portrayed Russia's ruling "tandem" as heirs to Tsar Alexander II, who freed the serfs in 1861 and is a symbol of reform.

"Today we are trying to develop our still-imperfect democratic institutions, modernize our economy and political system," he said in the imperial-era cap¬ital. "We are continuing the course that was outlined a century and a half ago."

"A nation … cannot live on tightened screws," he said. "It is obvious that excessively strict order, an excess of controls, usually leads not to the victory of good."

Nearly three years into a four-year term that has brought plenty of talk about institutional reforms, political pluralism and economic modernization but few tangible results, Medvedev offered no specific plans.

Alexander II is hailed as "the Liberator" for granting freedom to millions of peasants, but critics say he left serfs with few chances to survive independently, as the soil they tilled was held by landowners for years to come.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more