Vice-speaker of the state Duma of the Russian Federation Pyotr Tolstoy
© Anton novoderezhkin/TASS
VIENNA, 24 Feb. /TASS/. The head of the Russian delegation at the winter session of the OSCE parliamentary Assembly, Vice-speaker of the state Duma Pyotr Tolstoy said that the democratic standards should be the same for all and should not be double. So he responded to the words of an American delegate, who in his speech touched upon this topic.
“American colleague and I were talking about the standards of democracy. I would like to say two things: the standards should be the same for all – and to the East and West of Vienna,” – said Tolstoy. “Unfortunately, in the elections in the US, not all of them were observed, what was said in her report, Mrs (speaker of the OSCE PA Christine) Murtonen”, – he reminded.
“Second. Standards of democracy should not be double, there shouldn’t be hypocrisy in the determination of the people of Kosovo can, and self-determination of people living in the Crimea and in the Donbass, it is impossible”, – says the Vice-speaker.
“To return Ukraine into the mainstream of the law and to ensure respect for the Minsk agreement as part of the political guarantees of the Russian population of Donetsk and Luhansk – a task that today, of course, is one of the most important in order to extinguish the conflict”, – said in this regard, the Colon.
At the same time, said Colon, the attitude of Russia in the world has changed significantly, other countries want to engage in dialogue with Russia and seek solutions to common problems. “In less than two days we have heard a lot of opinions about Russia and possible further development of relations. But it is safe to say that our country came out of isolation, we want to engage in dialogue and seek solutions to common problems – from combating global terrorism to bilateral relations,” said Thick journalists. “As if someone wanted to, but Russia – a great power, on par with the US, and it should be considered”, – he stressed, noting that it showed on 23 February meeting with American legislators.
“As long as someone will continue to broadcast on the “Russian aggression”, we will establish a dialogue on important issues with other countries,” affirmed the politician.
Tolstoy explained in his speech on the Committee the members of the Ukrainian delegation once again talked about “Russian aggression”. In response, the representative of the Russian delegation, state Duma Deputy Nikolai Ryzhak said that “if we continue to make the wording about “Russian aggression” in a diplomatic conversation, it will not lead to the solution of a question”. Moscow is acting strictly under international law, he said.