Russia must find its own way towards democracy. It has never known this desirable state of affairs and at many levels is deeply suspicious about the implied western values being imposed upon it. Of course this is primarily a top-down attitude but there is little evidence that there is much in the way of public "demand" for the various freedoms, that the western world characterises as democracy. 'Interference' is how the state regards foreign-funded NGO campaigning and right now the state has a lot of support from the people. Even more offensive in Russian eyes, are the otiose public pep-talks made by western leaders such as the US President, pointing out their slippage, or lack of achievement in democratic standards. The Russians can and do respond by referring to a long list such as: the disgracefully undemocratic Florida conclusion to the US presidential election of 2000; to the US engaging in an offensive war in Iraq without UN sanction, resulting in scores, perhaps hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths, and many more injuries; to the US unilaterally departing from the Geneva conventions on prisoner of war treatment at its prison camps, Guantanamo and elsewhere; they refer to such scandals as Abu Gharaib and of US agencies hijacking suspects 'for rendition,' off the streets of other countries - the list goes on. It can be summarised as people that live in glass houses should not throw stones, let alone take a high moral line with other 'malefactors'.

In 2008 Russia will elect a new president. There are likely to be candidates on the slate who represent the virtues that the west would like to see take hold. But who is holding their breath on such a candidate winning, or even doing well? If Russia continues to succeed economically (and with an oil and gas based economy, why should they not), then amongst other improvements their people will want to see over time, will be those that we characterise as democracy. Russian citizens becoming used to much improved family and national circumstances are not going to want to be compared with other successful nations where opposition politicians and editors , investigative journalists etc; are not shot down in the streets without any one ever being even arrested, let alone convicted

A smooth path to raising living standards will include such obvious improvements in life, but this is for them to achieve. It cannot be imposed in such circumstances, nor brought about by preaching. Our PRESCRIPTION is to stop trying to tell them how they should run their country, whilst making sure that the information as to what they actually do is fully reported and widely available in the international media, for any or all who may wish to do so, to easily access.