Paul Goble
Staunton, May 20 – Speaking to a St. Petersburg conference on foreign interference in Russian history, Konstantin Chuychenko, Russia’s justice minister, said that up to now, his ministry was committed to “protecting the rights and lawful interests [of citizens], followed by upholding the rule of law, and only then, third, in strengthening statehood.”
But given what is happening now, “strengthening statehood probably shouldn’t be left in third place.” After all, the minister continued, “a weak state can’t guarantee citizens’ rights or uphold he rule of law.” Consequently, “we must actively continue working to strengthen our statehood and counter foreign interference” (t.me/ostorozhno_novosti/36747).
Rarely if ever has a Russian justice minister been so blunt in suggesting that defending rights and the rule of law are not nearly as important as strengthening the power of the Russian state. And his declaration of that shift now underscores exactly what has happened in Putin’s Russia and where it is going at home and abroad.
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