Russian presidential adviser Andrey Illarionov has decided not to take part in the work of the World Economic Forum in Davos beginning tomorrow.
Illarionov decided to take this step as a sign of protest against "the policy of censorship in Davos", according to a statement by Illarionov's office that was received by RIA-Novosti today.
Illarionov has been denied the opportunity to speak at sessions which are devoted to climate change.
Illarionov was one of the initiators of the move to get the issue of climate change included on the agenda of the World Economic Forum. As the press service [from Illarionov's office] specifies, this problem was picked out by the British government as one of the most important themes for when it takes over the chairmanship of the G8 in 2005.
"It was intended that the Russian presidential adviser would take part in the discussions. However, at the last moment, Illarionov was refused the opportunity to speak at sessions devoted to climate change. In a mark of protest, Illarionov has said he will not take part in the work of the forum," the statement says.
According to the presidential adviser's office, the forum organizers' motives for the refusal are that there are no plans to debate climate issues in Davos and "only the British government adviser David King will get the opportunity to speak". In tthis regard, the statement suggests that "the decision was made under the influence of the British prime minister's office".
"The rejection of a debate at the World Economic Forum is an unprecedented occurrence," Illarionov said, quoted in the press-release. "An injunction on taking part in the discussion, on enunciating an opinion which is shared by thousands of scientists and experts around the world, is nothing other than censorship".
Illarionov is convinced that "as a member of the G8, Russia has as much of a right to discuss problems of global climate change, which are included on the G8 agenda for this year, as Britain does".
"Censorship for people from a certain country or holding a certain opinion are absolutely unacceptable, all the more so at a forum which is meant to be global."
"The censorship of the discussion of global climate change issues shows once again just how weak and scientifically unsubstantiated are the opinions of those people who support the Kyoto Protocol," Illarionov said. "Not one of the globally famous and respected experts in the sphere of climatology has been invited to Davos, not a single critic of the Kyoto Protocol will be given their say at Davos."
"The totalitarian ideology of 'Kyotoism' is taking root with totalitarian methods. Whatever is said about the issues of climate change in Davos during this time, it will only be the cynical, pseudo-scientific propaganda thrust upon the world and in particular developing countries," the press service quotes Illarionov as saying. The conduct of the "Kyotoism" lobbyists in Davos and in the international area in general shows once more how mistaken and dangerous was the decision by the Russian authorities to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

Source: RIA news agency, Moscow
BBC Monitoring