Putin praise a ‘gross error’

ALEX SALMOND has been accused of a “gross error of judgment” by the UK’s Foreign Secretary after he expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

William Hague told the House of Commons that people across the country would be “horrified” by the First Minister’s comments to GQ magazine.

Mr Salmond said he admires “certain aspects” of Mr Putin — but does not approve of a range of Russian actions — in an interview given on March 14.

The remarks came as the country was being accused of military aggression over the future of Crimea, which it has since annexed, in neighbouring Ukraine.

Under questioning by Labour MP Willie Bain, Mr Hague said: “I think people throughout Scotland and indeed throughout the whole of the UK will be horrified by these comments.

“To pay tribute even as Russia was annexing by force the Crimea, to pay tribute to the restoration of pride in Russia is a gross error of judgment in international relations and very concerning in the attitude of the Scottish National Party,” he said.

His comments also attracted harsh criticism from Amnesty International.

The charity’s programme director in Scotland, Siobhan Reardon, said: “Mr Salmond should reserve his admiration for those worthy of it, not those who trample over human rights and flout international law.”

A spokesman for the First Minister last night stressed the Scottish Government’s opposition to the Russian Government’s stance on human rights, homosexuality and “the illegal annexation of Crimea”.

The spokesman added: “The Scottish Government has a track record of promoting human rights internationally: only at the end of last year, during a speech in China the First Minister spoke about China’s participation in the UN Universal Periodic Review and the forthcoming launch of Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights.

“However on the issue of Russia, we will take no lectures from Tory, Labour and Liberal Politicians who are part of a No campaign which has in recent months been cosying up to Russia to persuade them to oppose independence.”