9 Nov 2010 15:14

Political institutions in Russia need improving - Medvedev

MOSCOW. Nov 9 (Interfax) - Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev believes the modernization of the Russian economy should be accompanied by modernization of political institutions.

"Economic life and economic traditions can only be changed by free people, people who are free in their actions and thoughts," Medvedev said in a joint press conference with his Finnish counterpart Tarja Halonen in Moscow on Tuesday.

Medvedev reiterated that innovations are creations, like changes in the economics. "For this reason, nothing can be done without the liberation of people, human potential. That is why we should not only improve economic life, but also political institutions," he said.