27 May 2004 12:34
Putin attacks `authoritarian` claims
RUSSIA: President Vladimir Putin promised Russians affordable housing, education and health care and shrugged off
claims of authoritarian trends, in his state of the nation address yesterday. Mr Putin said Russia could double its
gross domestic product faster than planned and alleged that some unnamed countries "deliberately interpret the
strengthening of our state as authoritarianism". In his fifth annual speech, he also issued a warning to unnamed
non-governmental organisations, saying many were more interested in getting funding from abroad than in defending the
"real interests of the people".
[The Independent] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
