Russia's new president Dmitry Medvedev vowed Wednesday to improve human rights and media freedoms in Russia, news agency Interfax reported.
"Our steady course will remain toward the creation of a free and responsible society, the defence of human rights, freedom of the speech and, of course, the supremacy of the law," Medvedev said in a speech to a congress of the Russian press.
The comments reiterated promises made since he took office last month, but held more emphasis as Medvedev took the floor to address delegates the international congress, reported dpa.
He acknowledged that Russia was not clear of political and social problems, but promised: "We intend to improve our political system."
Such promotion of personal freedoms, whether simply rhetorical, has was absent from Russian politics under Medvedev mentor and predecessor Vladimir Putin, who rejected international criticism of his record on human rights and media freedoms.