Position
The future of Eurasian Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization
I'm sure that such institutions as Eurasian Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization have a great future ahead. But first we have to work hard to make the mechanisms of economic integration run smoothly. After that, if we succeed, we can transform it into an economic and political union with collective security, much like the EU. And of course, a lot depends onRussiahere. IfRussiastarts the transition to a modern, successful, quickly developing democratic country, then it will, without a doubt, become the center of attraction to other countries.
Municipal authorities
Today the authorities are sure: as far as they control municipal authorities, everything else in Russia will be good and working. That is why today we, in the political party Just Russia, are fighting to make municipal authorities free of deskbound lawlessness, free of corruption and one hand washing the other. I'm sure there are many brave and devoted people like Oleg Shein in our party. And his fight for justice is going to be continued by many of our members in all the regions of Russia. So, however strong the tree of political monopoly is holding to the ground, we are going to keep cutting its roots. And, be sure, we will get it out!
I'm often asked in interviews: "What qualities should a politician have?" And believe me, many reporters are very surprised when I begin the answer to that question with 'honesty and decency'. Of course, they expect to hear about the ability to make tough decisions, the ability to quickly adjust to the quickly changing situation, etc, etc. By all means, a politician should have all those qualities, but today, in politics and in everyday life, the qualities we lack and we need most are kindness, mercy, honesty and justice.
I'm glad that my ideas, the ideas of our political party JustRussiaare in fact on the agenda now. We need social reforms, although we have to conduct political reforms first: eliminate corruption, change judiciary system.
I see our ideas in every article written by Putin. Vladimir Putin has set his priorities in social, political, economic spheres in his articles, doing what every presidential candidate does this way or another. I can say that I have conflicting emotions about those articles, most of all because I agree with many ideas expressed by Putin there, for I myself and Just Russia have been suggesting these ideas for quite some time now, and these ideas are still being rejected by the ruling party. I find our ideas in every Putin's article: the idea about fair political competition, about setting up Audit Chamber, about parliamentary investigations, about sumptuary tax, internet democracy, non-commercial housing lease, etc, etc. But here's what concerns me most: if Vladimir Putin now thinks that our ideas are valid and worth trying to implement, why he hasn't done it before?
We are ready to share responsibilities for the implementation of our initiatives borrowed by Vladimir Putin. During the presidential race I've noticed not once that a number of ideas and initiatives published by Vladimir Putin in Russian newspapers he in fact borrowed from my presidential program and from Just Russia's program. First I felt content about it, I thought it was a good sign that prime minister took the opposition ideas and included them in his presidential program. And I shall be really glad if those initiatives are implemented, because it is important that they are implemented and do good to people, and it doesn't matter whose ideas they were in the first place.
Health care
I'm strongly against the transfer of our health care system from free of charge to fee-paying. Owner-operated medical institutions have become a very important part of our health care system. And I am not against it, I believe that it is essential for us to have both free of charge, state-funded and owner-operated, fee-paying medical services, not just the latter.
Charity
It doesn't matter what position or job you are at - come and help!
Social democracy is the only thing that can provide for the implementation of the principles of social state, such as right for social guarantees and wellbeing for everyone, including the right for full employment and decent salary, the right to for trade unions and participate in strikes, the right to have housing accommodations, free access to health care and education.
Democracy and fair elections
There's a well-known saying "Democracy is a procedure", and it has been nurtured throughout the history of parliamentarism. Courts of law can cancel any verdict in case the procedure was not followed correctly. I'm convinced that when the authorities evaluate election results, the attitude should be the same: if the procedure has not been followed correctly, the election results should be void. And if we have proof as solid as the video taped procedure violations, we cannot say that those violations were merely "minor mishaps". This is very serious, and I believe it affects the citizen' trust to our electoral system.
21.04.2012 Sergei Mironov wrote in his personal blog
Crime and Punishment
I believe Anders Breivik should be sentenced to life in solitary confinement without parole.
Sergei Mironov in his blitz-interview
By all means, we should have more severe punishment for pedophilia and we should do everything we can to protect the children from being exposed to contacts with aggressive people, but that is not enough. We need to change our society, our relationship culture; we have to promote family values and become a better, safer environment for our children. I'm sure that preventing a crime is as effective as punishing for it.
I fully support the decision to have more severe punishment for such crime as pedophilia. But simply to make the amendment to the Criminal Code is not enough. We have to do everything we can in order to make the punishment for pedophilia inevitable, and make sure that those criminals do not get any indulgence, such as parole or conditional sentence.
Internet Censure
Russia joining WTO
Terrorism
Currently we have several reasons to name terrorism a war being held against our country and our people. Those reasons are the scale of terrorist activities, their tactics and moves. Sometimes terrorist formations are as skilled, trained and armed as regular army troops. And I believe that terrorists and their aides are extremely dangerous criminals, and they deserve no mercy and no forgiveness.
09.02.2011 Sergei Mironov on terrorist attacks in Domodedovo airport, Moscow
Innocent citizen hurrying to work have become victims of terrorists. The bombs exploded in rush hour, when metro is overloaded with passengers. It means that the terrorists wanted the largest possible number of victims. 'Lubyanka' and 'Park Kultury' metro stations are located in the very centre of Moscow. It means that the terrorists wanted to show that nobody in Russia can feel safe and secure. This is an insolent and cruel defiance to all citizen of multinational Russia. But I'm sure that terrorist attacks will not reach their main goals - to frighten the society, to bring chaos and political instability to our country.
29.03.2010 Sergei Mironov commented on explosions in Moscow Metro
Environmental issues
nowadays climate issues have become political issues, and severe political fights are triggered by climate issues. What is the main reason for transferring climate change discussion from scientific to political level? The answer is quite clear: if you control the country's carbon dioxide emission, you control its industrial growth and consumption. It is all connected: the faster a country develops, the higher is population income and the higher is carbon dioxide emission. Thus you can control the economy of a region or a country through climate protection.
29.04.2010 Sergei Mironov has made a speech at the international conference 'Climate as politics'
Death sentence
I am negative about calling off a moratorium on the death penalty. Terrorists should receive life behind bars and rot in prison and die bad deaths.
31.03.2010 Russian upper house speaker against death penalty for terrorists
I'm totally against death sentence as is, though I'm aware of the fact that such opinion would hardly bring my popularity in Russia up. The main reason why I think so is not only, and not even the usual philosophic statement that 'the man cannot take what he had not given'. I believe death sentence should be replaced by life in prison because of too many judicial errors we have. And in case an innocent person is sentenced to death it is too late to do anything when the truth comes out.
from the interview to "Zakon" magazine, - 10.2009, #10
Nazism and WWII history
During his official visit to Germany mostly dedicated to the upcoming 65th anniversary of WWII victory Sergei Mironov said: "We highly appreciate the efforts of German authorities and society in preserving and protecting soviet war monuments and memorials".
06.05.2010, Official visit to Germany
Over 600 thousand of Armenians fought for our victory. 90 thousand were honored as USSR heroes. Our fraternal nations saved the mankind from fascism. I wish you happy, healthy and long years of life. And let centuries-old Russian-Armenian friendship be strengthened by new generations.
04.05.2010 Sergei Mironov: we are proud to see Armenians among Great Patriotic War veterans
As Sergei Mironov has said, Russians remember now and will always remember their history for the sake of their future but not for getting back at somebody. "Our people have liberated themselves from the plague of nazism and after that renounced inhuman stalinism. It is enough to have no need in somebodies precepts on how we should consider our history"
24.08.09 Sergei Mironov: "Russian people have passed their own sentence on nazism and stalinism"
Relations of Russia and the USA
I am sure that Russia and the USA are doomed to agreements, collaboration and partnership. There is no other way.
05.07.09 Sergei Mironov: "Visit of Barack Obama to Moscow"
World economic crisis
We realize that effective security of our national interests is possible only in view of the same of other countries. Otherwise it turns into pandering to national egoism.
19.12.08 Sergei Mironov: "National interests should not be substituted by national egoism"
As our country actively deals in world economic relations, the crisis was to affect us unavoidably. Our financial system and economy in general possess the huge amount of durability worked out during the years of continuous economic growth. The time to use these resources has come - and it has been done.
14.10.08 Sergei Mironov: "Beginnings and reasons of the crisis are outside the Russian economy"
There will be no default. I am certain that the 1998 situation will not repeat here. The Russian economy has great potential, and default is impossible. We must not only take anti-crisis measures but also use this opportunity and upgrade the structure of the Russian economy.
13.10.08 Sergei Mironov: "The Russian economy has great potential, and default is impossible"
(RosBusinessConsulting, 13.10.2008)
Independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
Time has proved the propriety of decision taken by Russian administration. Only by these means it was possible to avoid the most horrible variant of what might happen. Later in the summer our country had no other way to secure people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia but to admit their independence.
07.08.09 Sergei Mironov has spoken on the events of August, 2008 in South Ossetia
Russia is interested in its southern frontier safety. Our country has made everything to pacify the region and recognized independence of two republics, thus turning out to be guarantee of their security and people's life safety. It was a hard but the only possible step, that has allowed to stabilize the situation and there is no reason to revise this difficult decision.
30.01.09 Sergei Mironov has spoken on the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia
We never needed something that belongs to somebody else, but we know how to protect our national interests. In the few last years Russia has demonstrated it very well.