PM warns against drumming "democracy" into others

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has cautioned some countries against trying to strong-arm other countries ‘into heaven’ and against drilling democracy into other nations.

"We all understand that what was called neocolonialism in the 20th century still persists as a phenomenon," he said at a session of the General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). "There are countries that are trying to forcibly impose their vision of the world order on other nations, allegedly for their own good, to teach them what democracy is and how their political system should be built, how the legal system should be developed and how to act in the coordinate system between superior and the subordinate," the Russian prime minister emphasized.

Political pressure, trade wars and economic sanctions are being used for this purpose, he noted. "However, it is well known that you can’t be strong-armed into heaven, and these intentions cannot be justified by any benefits whatsoever," he stressed. "Each nation determines its own fate by itself," Medvedev stressed.

Russia is ready to cooperate with partners solely on the principles of international law, mutual respect and taking into account each other’s interests.