NOVO-OGARYOVO. June 14 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia will not accept international criticism of its democratic standards that is used "to interfere in our internal affairs and achieve one's own foreign policy goals," President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.
Russia is aware of "various points of view on the development of democratic institutions in our country," Putin told a news conference after talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday.
"We are aware, in particular, of criticism regarding Chechen events. Great Britain heard the same kind of criticism for many years regarding the events in Northern Ireland," Putin said.
Moscow is willing to discuss issues of "democracy and human rights as part of the situation throughout the world, in Europe, and in Russia," he said, adding that Moscow welcomes friendly criticism.
"The only thing we object to is the use of such criticism to interfere in our internal affairs and achieve one's own foreign policy goals," the Russian leader said.