MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Nobody has the authority to prevent people from thinking openly and expressing views on political and economic issues, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
"I want to especially emphasize [that] nobody can forbid someone to think openly and express position in culture, politics, in media and in public life in debates on economic issues," Putin said during his annual address to the Russian parliament.
The president added that the meeting of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art, which is set to be held on Friday, will focus on discussing the issues, which are subjects to wide-ranging debate, and principles of mutual accountability of civil society and artists.
