Putin warns against extremes in One Russia party purge

The work to purge the ranks of the One Russia party of those who discredit it should not turn into a blitz [vernacular: kampaneyshchina], Russian Prime Minister and One Russia leader Vladimir Putin has said.

"What one does not need here is any extremes: this whole work must not start smacking of a blitz," he said in Novo-Ogarevo [Putin's residence in Moscow Region] on Thursday [17 July] while meeting Deputy Chairman of the State Duma and secretary of the presidium of the One Russia General Council Vyacheslav Volodin.

"It should be serious work, and most importantly, it should aim to achieve specific results," Putin said.

For his part, Volodin said that One Russia should "promote energetic and decent people to all levels of authority". "Those who discredit the party with their actions, who derive personal gains, should have no place in it" Volodin said.

He pointed out that the party had made progress in carrying out the instructions made at the most recent congress of One Russia. Addressing the One Russia congress in April, Vladimir Putin urged the party to get rid of bureaucrats and careerists. [Passage omitted]

Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1307 gmt 17 Jul 08

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