Russian Press Ask Bush: Who Says We're Not Free? February 24, 2005
BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Incensed by U.S. talk of a lack of press freedom in Russia, two Russian reporters tried to turn the tables on President Bush during his summit news conference with Vladimir Putin Thursday.
After Bush said he had raised concerns about Russia's democracy in talks with the Russian president and felt reassured, he suddenly found himself on the defensive.
"What is that lack of freedom all about?" a reporter from the Russian news agency Interfax asked the U.S. president.
Before Bush could answer, the reporter then turned on Putin and demanded to know why he was not sticking up for Russian reporters by talking about violations of the rights of American journalists.
A startled Bush then replied that Putin had brought up the subject of journalists getting fired recently in the United States.
"People do get fired in the American press. They don't get fired by the government, however, they get fired by their editors," Bush said.
"If you're a member of the press corps and you feel comfortable with the press in Russia, then I think that is a pretty interesting observation for those of us who don't live in Russia to listen to," he said to the Russian questioner.
An equally agitated Putin rejected the notion he was keeping silent on the issue, but that it was not something worth making a fuss about.
"What do you mean when you say I keep silent? I am not the propaganda minister," Putin said.
"You mentioned reports in the media about existing problems with the press, but that in itself is a testament that we do have freedom of the press."
Earlier another reporter, for Russia's Kommersant daily which is often critical of Putin, said America's democracy was also faulty and Bush should account for some limits on personal freedoms imposed after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks.
===== Nu, zayats, pogodi!
__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - Sign up for Fantasy Baseball. http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/