Russia is in need of firm handling

Russia starts 2008 with its confidence higher than at any time since the collapse of the Soviet Union. At home, President Vladimir Putin and his top officials have managed a succession which seems certain to ensure their grip on power for years to come. Abroad, Russia is increasingly willing to assert its influence, especially in the former Soviet Union. The high price of oil has given the Kremlin huge resources with which to remake Russia and try to fulfil its ambitions.

The great cloud on the bright Russian horizon is the Kremlin’s growing authoritarianism. Mr Putin has suppressed hopes that post-Soviet Russia might soon develop into a democracy. In its place is a country dominated by spies and bureaucrats and their acolytes in business. The dominant ideology is nationalism, sometimes moderate, sometimes very intolerant, particularly of ethnic central Asians and Caucasians. But the elite’s overriding motive is the ruthless, and often corrupt, pursuit of personal wealth.

Most Russians support Mr Putin because they credit him with stabilising Russia after the chaotic 1990s and safeguarding the country’s oil-fired economic boom. A few liberals protest passionately about the decline of democracy. But the rest of the country does not really care.

The question for the west is how to deal with such an important but increasingly unco-operative country. The answer is to engage with Russia on many fronts but avoid compromising on western values, particularly the rule of law. It will not be easy, but the US and the European Union must try and apply some basic principles.

Financial Times