Western calls for release of people detained at rallies in Russia are aimed at putting pressure - Putin
ARKHANGELSK. March 30 (Interfax) - The calls made by the West to release people detained at the recent unauthorized rallies in Moscow and in other cities of Russia are politicized and are aimed at putting pressure on the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"We consider such questions and requests to Russia [for the release of the people detained at the rallies] purely politicized and aimed at putting pressure on the internal political life in the country," Putin said at the International Arctic Forum in Arkhangelsk on Thursday.
These calls are being made from the West "on the background of the crackdown by police on protesters in Paris in connection with the killing of a French citizen of Chinese origin right in his home," the president said.