WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (AFP) - The United States on Tuesday expressed concern about moves by Russian President Vladimir Putin to strengthen his powers.
"These steps certainly raise concerns," said US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.
Putin has called for a new system of selecting regional leaders that would give the Kremlin a strong role in the process. He has also toughened security in the North Caucasus and appointed a new government chief of staff after a tragic hostage-taking at school in Beslan.
Boucher said the United States would want to discuss the measures with the Russian government.
"We stand in solidarity with Russia in the fight against terrorism.
"Nothing justifies the sort of horrible terrorist actions that occurred last week in Russia."
He added, however, that it was important "to strike the right balance between fighting terrorism but also moving forward on democratic reforms and the democratic process.
"That is a fundamental issue that has to be faced, and one that we'll be discussing with the Russians," he said.
The United States has joined the European Union in raising concern about the new political measures announced by Putin on Monday.
"It is a step back from the road we hoped Russia will take to the direction of bigger transparency and democracy," US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said in Riga after a meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Indulis Emsis.
Putin plans to reinforce Kremlin control over Russia's sprawling regions, notably by making governors electable by local assemblies voting on candidates proposed by Moscow, instead of direct universal suffrage.
However, an independent civil liberties advocate in Washington was harsher than US officials. "Putin's proposal to strengthen government powers could further erode Russia's already fragile democracy and turn the country into an authoritarian state," Freedom House executive director Jennifer Windsor said in a statement.