Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday defended his government 's record on free speech and rejected a claim it uses `` Stalinist '' methods , a day after two international rights groups issued scathing reports . Putin was put on the spot during an annual televised call-in session in Moscow . It was his first since he was elected to a third term as president last May and lasted close to five hours . Journalist Alexey Venedictov , who is editor in chief of the Echo of Moscow radio station , asked Putin if Russia can use `` Stalinist tools '' if it wants to be an advanced , modern state . `` I do n't think we can see Stalinist elements here , '' Putin responded . Stalin is recalled for `` the personality cult and mass violation of law , reprisals , prison camps -- we see nothing like that in Russia today and I hope we will never see that again . Our people will never allow that to happen again , '' he said . `` But that does n't mean we should have no discipline , no law and order -- and all people in Russia should be equal before the law . '' That includes the women in the punk band Pussy Riot , Putin said . `` No one puts anyone in prison for political reasons , for their political views . They get punished for violating the law . Everybody should observe the law . '' Three Pussy Riot members were convicted last year of hooliganism for performing a song critical of Putin in a Russian Orthodox cathedral , in a brief but provocative protest action . Two are still in prison following the controversial trial . The reports published Wednesday by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both outlined a deterioration in the freedom of speech , citing a heavy clampdown on critics and activists . Human Rights Watch said the government has `` unleashed a crackdown on civil society unprecedented in the country 's post-Soviet history '' in the 12 months since Putin regained the presidency . `` The authorities have introduced a series of restrictive laws , harassed , intimidated , and in several cases imprisoned political activists , interfered in the work of nongovernmental organizations ( NGOs ) and sought to cast government critics as clandestine enemies , thereby threatening the viability of Russia 's civil society , '' it said . Putin told the audience it is OK to have demonstrations , `` but they should be legal '' and should n't interfere with other people 's lives . Controls of the Internet are needed only to limit access to child pornography , pedophilia and education on `` suicide activities , '' Putin said . Putin said non-governmental organizations are welcome in Russia -- and play a useful role in exposing local abuses of power -- but those that receive foreign funding and are involved in political affairs should declare where the money came from and what it is spent on . The two rights groups were critical of new laws which , Human Rights Watch said , `` clearly seek to limit , or even end , independent advocacy and other NGO work . '' The president also was asked about the trial for embezzlement of prominent Kremlin critic and opposition leader Aleksei Navalny , which resumed Wednesday in the northern city of Kirov . Navalny , who 's also a popular anti-corruption blogger , says the charges are politically motivated . Putin responded that `` people who fight corruption have to be completely honest themselves ... if someone accuses other people of stealing , it does n't mean he 's above the law himself . '' International relations . Putin urged closer cooperation between different countries ' security services in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings . On two occasions -- in March and late September 2011 -- Russian authorities asked U.S authorities to investigate one of the bombing suspects , Tamerlan Tsarnaev . FBI agents on Wednesday interviewed his parents in Dagestan , in Russia 's North Caucasus region . `` This tragedy should motivate us to work closer together , '' Putin said . `` If we combine our efforts we will not suffer blows like that . '' Questioned about his country 's external ties , Putin acknowledged that there has been `` some cooling off '' in Russia 's relationship with the United States since the Iraq War , which Moscow opposed . Putin also pointed to other U.S. actions as factors in the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Washington . He highlighted the decision of U.S. lawmakers to pass the December 2012 Magnitsky Act , a law that imposes visa bans on and freezes the assets of 18 Russian officials believed to be connected to the death in prison of whistle-blowing Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky . `` Why did they do this ? Nobody knows the answer to that question , '' Putin said . Russia 's lawmakers responded to the Magnitsky list with their own list , slapping similar sanctions on 18 Americans it called rights violators . Putin also said he is grateful for the Obama administration 's support of Russia 's entry to the World Trade Organization but questioned why it still has Cold War-era legislation -- the so-called Jackson-Vanik amendment -- governing its trade relations with Russia . The United States has waived the legislation every year since 1994 , but it still violates World Trade Organization rules requiring members of the body to give one another permanent normal trade relations . NATO 's engagement in the Libya conflict also led to cooler relations , Putin said . The session was Putin 's 11th televised question-and-answer conference , according to Russian state-run broadcaster RT .
Putin says the Russia tragedy should motivate countries to work together . Putin denies the use of `` Russian tools '' to limit freedoms in U.S. in a televised session . `` No one puts anyone in prison for political reasons , '' says the Russian president . Putin says U.S. actions have been factor in a `` cooling off '' of Moscow - Moscow relations .