The outgoing presidency of the EU, Finland, has blasted Russia for the state of democracy in the country, warning Moscow against moving toward authoritarianism.
"We are fully entitled to be concerned at the way things are going in Russia," Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen told the European Parliament on Monday (18 December).
"We need to see a firmer commitment to democracy, the rule of law and the market economy. We do not want Russia to go in an authoritarian direction."
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