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KASYANOV TALKS, RUSSIA LISTENS
MOSCOW, February 24 (RIA Novosti political commentator Pyotr Romanov) - Ex-Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who has kept silent since he was fired, is talking, which has provoked a variety of reactions, not to mention general interest, in Russian society.
The initial reaction was offense. According to information from the U.S. where the ex-premier read lectures, he sharply criticized the policy of Putin's government and demanded that Russians be banished from his lectures. Russians do not like this.
But the offense turned out to be premature. When the news was made public, Mr. Kasyanov openly put forth his stand to the Russian media. In his opinion, Russia is backsliding in the economy and democratic development, and he was the last man who dared to disagree with President Putin.
He slashed at the democratic forces, which cannot agree to join forces after their defeat at the latest parliamentary election. And lastly, the ex-premier admitted he might rival Mr. Putin's appointed successor in the race for presidency. Mr. Kasyanov did not specify, hinting that Russia should first create a strong right-wing party and only then choose a candidate for presidency from it.
It was reported on the same day that Mr. Kasyanov is creating a powerful consulting company to provide situation analysis in Russia also to major foreign firms. This is quite possible, in view of the broad connections of the former premier.
The conclusions from the above may differ, but some of them cannot be questioned. We do not know why Mr. Kasyanov broke his vow of silence now. It may be the beginning of the race for presidency, though this seems improbable. Or this may be a promotion campaign of his future consulting company. But who cares?
It is much more important that nobody had ordered Mr. Kasyanov to keep silent in the first place. By criticizing Mr. Putin now, the ex-premier played into his hands. The fact that his statements were made public by the Russian media, including state-run ones, shows that freedom of the press has not been strangled in Russia, despite what many people abroad may think. Russia did not bust a vein because Mr. Kasyanov repeated the Western media's criticism of President Putin.
If his statements encourage the Russian government to act more wisely, well and good. If they help the democratic parties unite, it will be wonderful. And if the West sees, at long last, that people in Russia can freely oppose the president, so much the better.
The best possible result will be if the Russian voters have a choice at the next presidential election. After all, this is what democracy is all about, and Russia and its incumbent president need it not less than the EU or Washington.
What will Vladimir Putin reply to Mr. Kasyanov? Knowing the man, I think he will not be too long to use his democratic right, and I cannot wait to listen to their debates.
Mikhail Kasyanov has talked, Russia has listened - and stirred, which does it good.