10 July 2003 16:50
RUSSIA: NATIONALIST CRITICIZES PUTIN FOR FAILURE TO ADDRESS DEMOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS...
Participating in an 8 July roundtable to discuss this year's presidential address to the Federal Assembly,
Sergei Baburin, head of the People's Will party and a former State Duma deputy, said that the "chief
myth" presented in President Putin's speech concerned the alleged achievement of social stability in Russia,
RosBalt reported. "There are fewer strikes and massive protests in Russia today than under [former President Boris]
Yeltsin," Baburin said. "However, a potentially balanced society has not yet been created." "Infant
mortality has dropped 21 percent in the last three years, but this result was achieved on account of a declining
birthrate. Russia stands on the road to demographic catastrophe," he added. Baburin also noted that the
Russia-Belarus Union was not mentioned in the speech, creating the impression that "in Putin's circle, things
are being run by people who are not interested in the unification of our two countries." Putin delivered his speech
on 16 May. JAC Copyright (c) 2003. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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