Europe "is seriously concerned" by the scale of protests in Russia and advises to fulfill the requirements

The European Union "is seriously concerned about the scale of opposition protests in Russia." About this, as ITAR-TASS reports, said in the commander of the EU representative for foreign affairs and security policy Katherine Ashton.

According to her, the Russian government should "respect the freedom of assembly of citizens." "The legislation on public meetings should, first of all, guarantee the freedom of meetings," Ashton said.

She expressed dissatisfaction with "the attempts of the authorities to intimidate the leaders of the opposition in order to prevent them from a rally." “The right to a peaceful meeting is fundamental. And the fact that this right is limited, speaks of incorrect actions,” Ashton said.

The EU representative calls on the Russian government to build a "constructive dialogue" with civil society in order to promote democratic standards.

Meanwhile, a group of liberals and democrats, one of the largest fractions of the European Parliament, called on the Russian authorities to respond to demonstrations of protest with specific steps in reforming the political system, Interfax reports.

The leader of the group, the former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verkhofstadt, called massive protests in Russia "the first sprouts of Russian political spring", and their participants "representatives of the new Russia". “The Russian authorities must listen and take into account (this signal), respond to key requirements: genuine political reform, free and honest elections, reform of the judicial system. It is necessary to immediately stop the persecution of civil society leaders and political opposition,” he emphasized in a statement of the fraction widespread in the Session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. According to Verkhofstadt, the EU must with all the frankness in support of the basic human rights, which "make up the cornerstone of any functioning democracy, especially in relation to the member countries of the Council of Europe."

Another deputy, Aleksander Lambsdorf, who had just returned from Moscow, said that he had seen the signs of curtailing democracy in Russia with his own eyes, primarily the suppression of the opposition and civil society activists.

“While this is happening, EU leaders cannot call Russia a strategic partner, because double standards in the EU foreign policy undermine confidence in us,” the deputy said.

His colleague is Christina Ouland, who oversees relations with Russia in the Liberals of the European Parliament, added: "The recent decision of the State Duma to sharply tighten the punishment for peaceful protests does not comply with European standards and international practice, as the authorities represent. There is nothing democratic in a 200-fold increase in fines to those who want to freely and peacefully express their opinion."