Vladimir Putin is expected in France. It will be in sixteen days, on the occasion of the G7 to be held in Biarritz. Friday, it will be twenty years that he holds the power in Russia. On Europe 1, Artem Studennikov, charge d'affaires of the Russian Embassy in France, talks about the Franco-Russian relations and the repression that affects the opposition demonstrations in Moscow.
"France is a key partner of Russia in all areas"
"Relations between France and Russia are good, France is a key partner of Russia in all fields," says Artem Studennikov at the microphone of Europe 1. The number 2 of the Russian Embassy in France says that the dialogue has never been broken between the two countries, despite obvious differences. The latest is the crackdown on opposition demonstrations in Moscow. An opposition denouncing the rejection of independent candidatures in the next local elections. 800 arrests took place last Saturday and 1,400 the previous weekend.
Unauthorized events
French diplomacy condemned the arrests of protesters. Moscow had immediately replied by calling France not to give him lessons. "There is legislation to respect," says Artem Studennikov. "If a group of French citizens propose to organize a demonstration on the Place du Trocadero or on the Place de la Concorde, it will ask the authorization of the authorities.It is the same thing in Moscow", explains the of the Russian Embassy in France, recalling that the demonstration of 3 August had not been authorized. "This is why the authorities have taken all the necessary means to stop an unauthorized event that could disturb public order," said Artem Studennikov.