Russia Kremlin leader Putin for freedom of speech

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has emphasized the importance of freedom of speech and information. "At a time when the complicated process of multipolarity is developing, it is particularly important to protect the principles of information reliability," Putin said in a video message to the participants of the Brics media summit in Moscow to mark the 120th anniversary of the state agency Tass.

"Genuine freedom of speech, which reflects different opinions, enables the search for compromises and common solutions to the world's problems," Putin continued. The media play an important role in the development of a just world order in order to give people "an objective and unbiased picture of the world".

Freedom of speech and media freedom have not existed in authoritarian Russia for years. Media that do not toe the government line have been banned and closed down. Opponents of the government are persecuted by the judiciary.

The Russian agency Tass has existed since 1904, in the early years under various names and designations. Now the country's largest news agency, it is also considered the mouthpiece of the government.

SDA