Putin: no one can forbid thinking freely, openly expressing one's opinion
MOSCOW. Dec 1 (Interfax) - No one can forbid thinking freely and openly expressing one's opinion in politics, the economy or mass media, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his address to the Federal Assembly.
"I would like to emphasize that no one can forbid thinking freely and openly expressing one's opinion in culture, in politics, in mass media, in public life, or in economic polemics," Putin said.
Whenever solidarity and unity are mentioned, "they imply conscious and natural consolidation of citizens for the sake of Russia's successful development," he said.
"Is it possible to achieve crucial, strategic goals in a divided society? Can these tasks be accomplished together with parliament, which is ridden with competing ambitions and fruitless argument instead of demonstrating efficient performance? Can one worthily develop on the flimsy ground of a weak state?" the president said.
