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Medvedev: Growth no substitute for citizens' voice
Apr 15, 2009, 9:10 GMT
Moscow - Economic growth is no substitute for the voice of the country's citizens, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has told a leading independent paper published Wednesday.
In his first major newspaper interview since becoming head of state in 2008, which was unexpectedly granted to the Kremlin-critical Novaya Gazeta, Medvedev confirmed his desire for further democratization.
Kremlin spokeswoman Natalya Timakova said that the president wanted to support the paper by giving the interview. Novaya Gazeta is known for its frequently critical stance and reporting of human rights abuses.
Several journalists from the paper - among them Anna Politkovskaya - have been killed in recent years.
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