US lawmakers urge G7 to meet to rebuke Russia

WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) A bipartisan group of U S lawmakers urged leaders from the seven most industrialized nations to rebuke Russia for backsliding on democracy when they meet next month with President Vladimir Putin.

Russia is due to host a summit of the Group of Eight world powers -- the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Russia -- in St. Petersburg July 15-17.

In a letter to President George W Bush and other G7 premiers the four senior lawmakers urged the leaders to use both the St Petersburg gathering and possibly a separate G7 meeting before or after the summit to warn Russia about its deteriorating democratic credentials.

The lawmakers listed a series of concerns about Putin's commitment to democracy, including a clampdown on political dissent and moves to have regional Russian governors appointed by the Kremlin rather than by direct election.

''President Putin has steered Russia away from democracy and toward authoritarianism,'' the letter said.

''He has increased pressure on opposition political parties and civil society, strengthened state control over national broadcast media, and pursued politically driven prosecutions of independent business leaders, academics and others voicing criticism of the government.

It was signed by California Reps. Tom Lantos, a Democrat, and David Dreier, a Republican, and Sens. John McCain, an Arizona Republican and Joe Lieberman, a New Jersey Democrat.

''If a decision were being made today about whether Russia should host the G8 summit, we would counsel against it,'' the letter said.

''Understanding that the summit will take place, however, it is important that the G7 heads of state make clear that Russia's actions are inconsistent with G8 democratic norms.'' They urged G7 leaders ''to make this point vigorously'' to Russia's leadership at St Petersburg and to consider a separate G7 meeting outside Russia before or after the summit.

Russia holds the rotating presidency of the G8 leaders club for the first time this year since gaining membership in 1997.

Relations between the United States and Russia deteriorated last month when U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney attacked Russia's democratic record and accused Moscow of using its huge energy supplies to blackmail bordering countries.

REUTERS PDS BST0052