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Weekend: President Putin defends handling of dissent

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President Putin defends handling of dissent

30/07/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Weekend, President Putin defends handling of dissent

Putin says he does not reject the idea of peace talks

President Putin has defended the Kremlin's crackdown on critics at a time of what he called armed conflict with a neighbour. 

Criticism of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine is outlawed in Russia and numerous critics have been jailed. Putin said that to achieve success in the conflict with Ukraine, everybody must follow certain rules and not harm Russia from the inside. 

During the wide-ranging press conference, he also said that he does not reject the idea of peace talks on Ukraine.

Also on the programme: West African leaders meet to discuss a coup in Niger; and the last newspaper in Europe still using a printing press.

Joining Julian Worricker to discuss all this and more are Agnes Callard, professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago; and the author and broadcaster John Kampfner. 

(Picture: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference. CREDIT: Sergei Bobylyov/TASS via Reuters)

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