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Russia strong enough to resist foreign pressure Putin

Other News Materials 12 July 2006 15:41 (UTC +04:00)

(RIA Novosti) - President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday Russia was a powerful state and warned against foreign attempts to pressurize the country.

"In my opinion, constant criticism of problems with democracy and media freedom is being used as instruments to interfere in Russia's domestic and foreign policy in order to exert influence on it," Putin told Canadian television channel CTV, reports Trend.

Putin has been subject to criticism in the West for purportedly backsliding on democracy and press freedom after state-owned companies gained control of the main television channels in the country.

Putin said Russia could resist foreign pressure now, unlike in the early 1990s when the country was on the verge of losing its sovereignty.

But the president added that some partners were still seeking levers to influence Russia.

"The desire to manage and orchestrate the situation inside Russia and its foreign policy has remained intact for some of our partners, and a feverish search for such levers and means of influence has now started," Putin said.

The president urged Russia's partners to give a deeper thought to developments in the world and analyze the prospects for 15-25 years ahead rather than until the next presidential elections.

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