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Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Medvedev warns of parliamentary democracy 'catastrophe' AFP - Saturday, September 11 Send IM Story Print MOSCOW (AFP) - – Parliamentary democracy would be catastrophic for Russia, President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday, showing his suspicion of Western systems of government despite a drive to modernise the country. Medvedev, who liberals hoped would prove a major political reformer when he took power in 2008, told a meeting of international experts that Russia's system of government was not in need of major change. "Nothing needs to be radically changed. Not because it is not allowed, but because there is no need," Medvedev told the meeting at a forum in the Volga city of Yaroslavl. Medvedev said Russia does not want a system like that of Kyrgyzstan, which is due to elect a strong parliament in October after agreeing constitutional changes that reduced the powers of the president. "We are told about parliamentary democracy and our Kyrgyz friends have gone along that path," he said. "But for Russia -- and I fear for Kyrgyzstan -- parliamentary democracy is a catastrophe," he added. Russian politics is dominated by the president and his powerful prime minister, Vladimir Putin, with the pliant parliament usually only providing a loyal rubber stamp for legislation proposed from above. Although touted by his supporters as a liberal moderniser, critics accuse Medvedev of doing nothing to dismantle the strong state control imposed on Russian politics over the last years. Little serious criticism ever comes from parliament, police regularly break up even small-scale opposition protests and, crucially, changes that abolished the elections of regional governors in 2004 remain firmly in place. Since former president Putin rose to power 10 years ago, Russian officials have insisted the country will develop its own political system sometimes called "sovereign democracy". State television pictures showed Medvedev addressing the experts next to the Kremlin's shadowy chief idealogue Vladislav Surkov, seen as the architect of the current political system. Medvedev admitted that Russia had endured a "difficult relationship" with democracy in its history and amid the chaos after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s many had associated democracy with poverty. But he said Russia did not want to go along the path of China by developing the economy and keeping all political reform in check. But anyone who says that Russia has a totalitarian system is "either lying or has a terrible memory," he said. Medvedev said protests were "normal" but had to take place "within the limits of the law". "There is democracy in Russia," Medvedev said in a speech to the forum. "Yes, it's young, immature and inexperienced but it is democracy. We are right at the start of the road." Medvedev has made the theme of his presidency an ambitious modernisation drive to end corruption and wean Russia off its dependence on hydrocarbon reserves by building an innovation-based economy. A lawyer by training, he took over the Kremlin after ex-KGB agent Putin ruled Russia as president for the maximum two consecutive terms allowed by the constitution. But the prime minister is allowed to stand in the next presidential elections and speculation is high that Putin might run, especially after he dropped a reference this week to four-term US president Franklin Roosevelt. Medvedev's spokeswoman said Friday his modernisation plans for Russia are not just for one presidential term, in a possible hint he is interested in a second mandate in 2012. "Achieving these goals goes beyond the term of one presidential mandate," Natalya Timakova told state English channel Russia Today. Pro-Kremlin analyst Gleb Pavlovksy told Interfax that he now saw Medvedev as a candidate for the 2012 elections as he had "linked the development of society to freedom and linked himself to that concept."cw Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Iran cancels planned release of female US hiker AFP - 14 minutes ago Obama calls on Americans to unite, not divide, over Islam AFP - 23 minutes ago Afghan president calls on Taliban leader to join peace talks AFP - 49 minutes ago French ministerial circular targets Roma encampments AFP - 1 hour 36 minutes ago UK-World Summary Reuters - 1 hour 3 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Recession has left huge hole: Obama Obama presses Israel to extend settlement freeze Irish bank AIB sells Polish assets to Santander Combat climate change with less gassy diet for cows: study Paramount to open theme park in Spain More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended US pastor puts Koran-burning on hold Wall Street's super traders come under fire Climate: New study slashes estimate of icecap loss Iran to free female US hiker Nokia appoints Microsoft executive as new CEO More Most Viewed » Climate: New study slashes estimate of icecap loss Earth's upper atmosphere shrinking, scientists say Tiger's ex breaks her silence on sex scandal Japanese rider Tomizawa dies in San Marino Moto2 GP 78-year-old woman found alive after week missing in Alps More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! 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