Our team recently covered the fifth inauguration of Vladimir Putin as Russian president. The ceremony took place in Moscow’s Grand Kremlin Palace, where our correspondent Ivor Bennett experienced the entire event. During the ceremony, Bennett had the opportunity to interview Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov about the state of democracy in Russia and the lack of opposition during the presidential election in March.
During the interview, Bennett questioned Peskov about accusations from Western leaders and governments that Putin had turned Russia into a dictatorship. Peskov dismissed these claims as propaganda and emphasized that Russia is a democratic country where citizens have the right to choose their leaders. He also addressed the lack of opposition to Putin in Russia, stating that there is opposition within the country, but conditions are more challenging due to ongoing war.
Peskov used the word “war” multiple times during the interview, referring to the conflict in Ukraine as a “special military operation.” When asked if it was important for citizens to have freedom of speech during wartime, Peskov stated that tougher measures were necessary to ensure victory and reach their goals. Despite facing challenging circumstances, Peskov maintained that Russia’s system is democratic and criticized Western media for operating under similar conditions.
Overall, the interview shed light on Putin’s perspective on democracy and opposition in Russia, highlighting how political power can be consolidated even under difficult circumstances.
