Solzhenitsyn opposes Russia emulating Western democracy

Moscow, Apr 28 (UNI) Criticising Russia for blindly aping the western democracy, famous Russian writer and former Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn has said Russia had ''thoughtlessly'' sought to copy Western democracy, which ''is in a serious state of crisis.'' ''We have opted for the most thoughtless form of imitation. And yes, present-day Western democracy is in a serious state of crisis, and it is still impossible to foresee how it will try to overcome it. But the right way for us is not to make replicas of models but to seek physical and moral well-being for the people without abandoning democratic principles," Solzhenitsyn said in an interview to newspaper Moscow News, published today.

He also accused NATO of plotting to put Russia under its control.

Claimimg that though the present-day Russia poses no threat to them, ''NATO is methodically and persistently building up its military machine into the east of Europe and by continentally surrounding Russia from the south,'' Solzhenitsyn said.

This involves open material and ideological support for 'colour' revolutions, the paradoxical forcing of North Atlantic interests on Central Asia, he added.

''All this leaves no doubt that this amounts to preparations for the complete encirclement of Russia and then its loss of sovereignty,'' he noted.

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