MOSCOW, July 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that all countries were obliged to combat neo-Nazism and urged European prosecutors to observe objective standards in these efforts.
Russia has repeatedly criticized marches staged by former members of the SS in the former Soviet republics of Latvia and Estonia, which are members of the European Union.
"For instance, it is hard for us [Russia] to understand why some countries close their eyes to human rights violations and why they break up anti-fascist demonstrations but do not notice rallies of former Nazis," Putin told a conference of European prosecutors.
Putin added that relevant legal norms were universal and stated in the Council of Europe's conventions.
"I believe that European prosecutors will ensure that single and unbiased standards are observed," the president said.