Barroso visited Moscow on Friday (6 February) together with nine commissioners, in what he described as "quite a rare event for such a representative delegation of the Commission to leave its headquarters".
Speaking at a press conference after meeting Putin, Barroso indicated that during his meeting with Medvedev, he had raised the issue of the functioning of the rule of law in Russia.
"In the spirit of frankness, over my meeting today with Mr. Medvedev, I noted a certain concern over the rule of law in the Russian Federation," Barroso said, according to a transcript available on the Russian government website.
Human rights organisations have condemned a number of contract killings that have taken place in Russia recently, including the murder of journalists and human rights activists.
Putin reacted to Barroso's short statement by saying:
"I just learned that Mr. Barroso has discussed with President Medvedev the problems of edification of the country based on the rule of law. Mr. Barroso has discussed this in the Kremlin, but has announced it here [in the government building], where Mr. Medvedev is not present and cannot say anything on the subject. But I know well the position of the Russian side," Putin mused.
Responding to the criticisms of his Brussels guest, Putin attacked EU countries over the treatment of Russian minorities in some Baltic states. But he declined to name them as former Soviet rulers had done in past times. He also blasted some EU countries for their records on the treatment of immigrants and prisoners.
"Russia is ready to discuss any problems, including those relative to human rights. We hope that these problems will be discussed in a global framework. We are still not satisfied by the way the Russian speaking minorities are treated in the Baltics. We know the rights of migrants in the countries of Europe and how they are violated. We know about the situation in prisons in certain European countries […] I cannot speak on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, but I ask Mr. Barroso: please have the hockey puck back from the Government of the Russian Federation," Putin stated.
Hockey is a very popular sport in Russia, and sending the hockey puck back to the other's camp is a popular expression for not accepting blame.
The Council of Europe recently criticised Latvia over its failure to grant so-called "non-citizens" (ethnic Russian residents of Latvia) the right to vote at local level (EurActiv 03/12/09).
