No need to demonize US: Medvedev

Moscow, April 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Both the US and Russia are concerned with what is going on in the other country, but there is no need to "demonize" Washington and accuse it of trying to dominate Russian politics, outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday.

"That they (the US leadership) are trying to influence some political processes - this is a fair assumption, just as that we are trying to influence some processes," Medvedev said.

But "it's pointless to speak about the US ruling some large-scale political processes in our country," he said.

"We are a big sovereign country, and no one can interfere with us," the president said.

Amid recent street protests in support of fair elections in Russia, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the US of instigating anti-government sentiments in the country.

Medvedev said he did not believe that outside interference could make large popular masses behave in a certain way.

"This is not serious. It is possible to instigate two, three, five, 25 or 500 people, but it's impossible to induce more people, whether we are talking about those protesting against the government, or those going to polls to support the authorities," he said.

However, in order to avoid problems, Medvedev said "we need to act with tact".

Medvedev reiterated his belief that the past four years were "the best in the history of Russian-US relations".

On the forthcoming US presidential elections, Medvedev said he had "certain sympathies towards one of the candidates", which critics think was an apparent reference to President Barack Obama.

However, the improvement of Russian-US ties "does not mean that we no longer have problems to discuss", Medvedev said.

Medvedev will leave the presidential post May 7, when president-elect Vladimir Putin is sworn in. He is expected to assume prime ministerial duties.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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