Konstantin Kosachev: Participation of G8 representatives in The Other Russia conference is “a rather clumsy gesture”

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Russian State Duma International Affairs Committee Member Konstantin Kosachev labeled as “a rather clumsy political gesture” participation of G8 states’ representatives – US State Department Undersecretary, British Ambassador, Canadian Ambassador, as well as politicians from several other countries – in “The Other Russia” conference on July 12 in Moscow.

“We understand to some extent motifs of leading western democracies, which feel themselves obliged ‘to support their allies’ everywhere,” Mr. Kosachev said. "However, in such case, the foreigners demonstrated their incompetence and unawareness concerning our realities because both most influential Russian political parties, presented at the parliament, and even leading oppositional forces – traditional allies of the West – refused to attend the gathering.