Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that a journalist who recently won a Nobel Peace Prize could be designated a foreign agent if he breaks the law.
Putin was asked at an international forum on Wednesday whether he can guarantee that Dmitry Muratov will not be labeled a foreign agent.
(Vladimir Putin / Russian President)
"If he tries to shield himself with the Nobel Prize to do something that violates Russian law, it would mean he would do it deliberately."
It was the first time Putin spoke publicly about the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Muratov, editor of the Russian independent newspaper Novaja Gazeta.
Putin's administration has increasingly cracked down on media outlets critical of the government by designating them as foreign agents, a move that limits their ability to report freely.
Novaja Gazeta and other independent media outlets have called on Russia to guarantee the freedom of the press.
Putin was asked at an international forum on Wednesday whether he can guarantee that Dmitry Muratov will not be labeled a foreign agent.
(Vladimir Putin / Russian President)
"If he tries to shield himself with the Nobel Prize to do something that violates Russian law, it would mean he would do it deliberately."
It was the first time Putin spoke publicly about the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Muratov, editor of the Russian independent newspaper Novaja Gazeta.
Putin's administration has increasingly cracked down on media outlets critical of the government by designating them as foreign agents, a move that limits their ability to report freely.
Novaja Gazeta and other independent media outlets have called on Russia to guarantee the freedom of the press.
◆crack down 厳しく取り締まる、弾圧する to become more strict in dealing with a problem and punishing the people involved
◆media outlet 報道機関