Vladimir Putin On Rehabilitation Of Polish Victims Of Stalin Reprisals

Vladimir Putin intends to issue instructions to the Russian government to create the necessary legal framework for citizens of Poland to use the law adopted by the Russian parliament on rehabilitation of victims of Stalin reprisals. The Russian head of state said this on Wednesday at a joint news conference with Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski following their talks. Putin took up this theme when replying to a question about what prospects exist for citizens of Poland who suffered from Stalin reprisals in terms of material compensation. "We will not make comparisons or equate the problems connected with Nazism and reprisals, but we do not want to shut our eyes to the negative aspects of the Stalin regime," he emphasised. Putin said that the provisions of the law adopted in Russia on political rehabilitation of victims of Stalin reprisals could also be used by citizens of Poland. The Russian president sees his task in "creating conditions which would ensure Polish citizens' access" to the application of this law. This subject, Putin noted, was discussed during his negotiations with Aleksander Kwasniewski.