Senate Speaker meets 'For a Free Russia' activists

''I am glad that there is a Russian youth which understands what democracy is, and understands what an open society means,'' Borusewicz said during the meeting at the Senate.

''Part of this society is standing next to me,'' he added.

Borusewicz invited members of the group, which is composed of young Russians living in Poland, after receiving a letter from the committee lamenting that he had been denied entry to Russia as the head of the Polish delegation for Nemtsov's funeral.

Masha Makarova, who has been living in Warsaw for seven years, said that ''we believe that our country, our motherland Russia, can be a free and democratic country.''

She recalled the presidency of Boris Yeltsin during the 1990s as a flicker of promise.

''We remember the taste of freedom which existed then in Russia, we remember the opportunity to express our views and the great hope that prevailed in Russian society.''

Makarova noted that the throngs of mourners who paid their respects at Nemtsov's funeral on Tuesday ''offer hope that society is prepared to change.''

Meanwhile, Borusewicz denied that he already knew that he was on a list of Polish figures banned from entering Russia (his funeral address was ultimately read by Deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Pawlik).

Borusewicz pointed out that Marcin Zaborowski, Director of the Polish Institute for International Affairs, had been in Moscow just a fortnight ago for an academic conference, and yet he too was denied entry to Russia for the funeral. (nh)

Source: PAP