West seeking to capitalize on opportunity to destabilize Russia

TEHRAN, Dec. 25 (MNA) -- The recent parliamentary election in Russia, which was followed by demonstrations in Moscow and some other big cities, provided the long-expected opportunity for Western governments, especially the United States and Britain, to create media hype about the unrest. The protests have been defined in Western circles as a carbon copy of the Arab Spring, which has created massive changes in the Middle East and North Africa. However, the limited scope of the demonstrations indicated that the efforts to create controversy about the election results are bound to fail and the Russian political system will only be slightly bruised. There was no Russian spring, just a brief warm spell in the middle of a cold Russian winter. Nevertheless, the demonstrations proved that there is a groundswell of support for the movements calling for change in the Russian political system. Vladimir Putin’s ruling party, United Russia, remains the most popular political group, but a significant segment of the country’s urban population, especially the younger generation, is seriously pressing for a change in the system. Thus, the need to address the public demand for a version of democracy consistent with Russian sociopolitical values is the most significant challenge for the current political system. And such a demand is being made because the Russian people can no longer tolerate the one-party, one-man system which has ruled their country for the past 12 years. Western countries are always looking for an opportunity to destabilize Russia. Thus, Putin, the favorite in the 2012 presidential election, is expected to have a better understanding of the popular demands for political freedom.