Context

The United States disproportionately uses force against citizens protesting as part of the Occupy Wall Street campaign, says Konstantin Dolgov, Commissioner of the Russian Foreign Ministry for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law; his commentary was published on the ministry’s website. The Occupy Wall Street protests began in New York on September 17. Since then, demonstrations have taken place in most major US cities and spread to other countries. “As for the reaction of the authorities to these speeches, it can be stated that there are elements of unjustified harshness and, in a number of cases, disproportionate use of force,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary. According to Mr. Dolgov, “the governments of the United States and a number of Western European countries, faced with a wave of public protests, do not always act adequately.” It is obvious that forceful methods alone will not resolve the problems existing in society and will not satisfy the legitimate aspirations of the protesters. This requires a thorough adjustment of national policy in the socio-economic and financial spheres,” the Russian Foreign Ministry is convinced.

Victor Stepanov

The Russian Foreign Ministry stood up for the US “dissenters”