Treatment of Russian opposition criticized

Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said that the treatment of the opposition in Russia is "in urgent need of reform". Austrian Press Agency reported on Wednesday that Spindelegger's remarks to journalists that the victory of Vladimir Putin in presidential elections was "not entirely surprising". In general, he stated that Russia was an important partner of the European Union. There were particularly intensive relations with Austria. Putin was now president-elect. It remained to be seen how his announcements about questions of neighbourlines, Europe and security were implemented, said the foreign minister. In Russia, about 250 arrested opposition demonstrators were released, but at the same time charged with violating the laws on freedom of assembly. It was not reported how such charges might affect their future lives and careers. A mass demonstration against the elections took place in Moscow on Monday, and police stepped in against demonstrators who refused to leave the scene. There were similar occurances in St Petersburg. Hundreds of people were arrested, including prominent Putin opponents. The demonstrators charged the elections were "unfair" - the same view as held by the OSCE, which said ballot counting was faulty in about one-third of polling stations. In Vienna, opposition Greens foreign policy spokesman, AlexanderVan der Bellen, called on the government to hold back with recognizing the election result. There had been "thousands of violations and irregularities" in the polling procedure.