If there’s one thing the Egyptian redux revolution proves, according to a top Russian politician, it’s that democracy is not a “one size fits all” system. In fact, said Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the Russian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, “democracy is not a panacea, especially in countries that are not part of the Western world,” Pushkov told the Interfax news agency.

“The events in Egypt show that there is no quick and peaceful transition from authoritarian regimes to democratic politics,” he said. Nearly all the “democratic revolutions” in the Arab world have ended in political and social tragedy, and it was clear that more work was needed preparing these, and probably other, countries in getting ready for a democratic system.

Pushkov is not an official government spokesperson, but analysts said that he often is used as a sounding board on various issues by Russian President Vladimir Putin.