Russian justice minister says strengthening statehood more important than rule of law and protecting citizens' rights
Russian Justice Minister Konstantin Chuychenko said Tuesday that the country’s history should be studied “through the lens of interference and foreign influence,” according to the Telegram channel Ostorozhno, Novosti.
Speaking at a session of the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum titled “Foreign Interference: Lessons from History,” Chuychenko remarked that “almost all the streets in the city center” are named after “members of [19th-century revolutionary group] Narodnaya Volya and terrorists.”
I’m not saying we should rename the streets. On the contrary, I think it shows stability — not everything has to be changed. But history should be written and interpreted in such a way that there’s no need or opportunity to reshape historical events or their meaning to suit the spirit of the times.
Chuychenko also said that Russia’s 19th-century Narodnik populist movement was fostered by the West and that the Rothschild family interfered in Russia’s political affairs.
The minister added that the Justice Ministry’s mission is “is governed by a triad,” in which strengthening statehood has traditionally been the third priority. But in light of current events (which he did not specify) and past experience, he said, “strengthening statehood can’t be treated as a secondary goal.”
In the past, we always said the top priority was protecting the rights and lawful interests [of citizens], followed by upholding the rule of law, and only then, third, came strengthening statehood. But everything happening now, and everything that happened back then, shows that strengthening statehood probably shouldn’t be left in third place. A weak state can’t guarantee citizens’ rights or uphold the rule of law. I believe we must actively continue working to strengthen our statehood and counter foreign interference and influence.
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