Orthodox churches, autocracy and national traditions are supposed to form a new national ideology in Russia. This would mean that Russia would be overtaken by its past, and our past would be our future.

The worst thing that can happen to Russia is indifference in the West - that is, if it were interested in nothing but oil and gas.

The West should be even more vocal in insisting that the Russians respect human rights.

Everyone in Russia must awaken the citizen within himself.

Germans, Frenchmen and Englishmen can say of themselves: "I am the state." I cannot say that. In Russia only the people in the Kremlin can say that. All other citizens are nothing more than human material with which they can do all kinds of things.

I am always surprised when I watch the weather report on German television. First they show the map of Europe and then the camera moves to the right. Then comes Kiev, then Moscow and then everything stops. This seems to be the West's view of us - of a wild Russia that begins past Moscow, a place one prefers not to see. This is a big mistake. The West must pay closer attention.

In Russia one can be as pure as can be and still lose everything in a flash and end up in prison.