Turning to Russia, she told MEPs she had encouraged Putin upon his return to the Kremlin on 7 May to engage in constructive dialogue with citizens and civil society.
Putin returned to power amid unprecedented protests against his election to a third term, seen by many as the result of widespread fraud. But the former KGB spy said he had won a "clean" victory and was on course to return to the Kremlin after four years as prime minister (see background).
Ashton said since then, the EU had been seeing “less and less dialogue and openness on the side of the authorities, and rather more intolerance of any expression of dissenting views”.
“Instead of stronger safeguards for the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms, we have seen a string of measures all chipping away at them,” she told MEPs meeting in Strasbourg.
She referred to legislation being pushed through the Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, at “unconstitutional speed", saying the aim was to “further reduce the available space for independent civil and political activity in the country”.
Note EU-Digest: the EU presently appears to be on the wrong track in its relationship with Russia. Instead of seeking common grounds on which there can be agreement the EU is giving the impression of meddling in matters with touch the sovereignty of Russia. The EU should also bear in mind that Russia is the third major trading partner of the EU. The present approach is probably not the best way to treat a major trading partner. As the saying goes: "its easier to catch a bear with honey than with vinegar"
Read more: Ashton deplores worsening EU-Russia relations | EurActiv
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