Vladimir Putin: authorities swallow the criticism of mass media

Paraphrasing a well-known expression of Mark Twain President of Russia Vladimir Putin stated at a meeting in the Kremlin with leaders of Russian mass media that "information regarding death of freedom of press is grossly exaggerated". According to him, though mass media often "quite sharply, critically" appraise actions of authorities, "authorities swallow that". And Putin stressed that such critical comments "are useful for authorities at any level as they force them to react to those mistakes which authorities sometimes make", RIA Novosti announces. The only mass media activity to be prohibited "might be in the sphere of dissemination of unlawful and extremist ideas",- stressed the President of Russia.