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 says the Boston tragedy should encourage countries to work together . Vladimir Putin denies the use of ` ` Stalinist tools '' to limit democracy in Russia in a televised session . ` ` No one puts anyone in jail for political crimes , '' says the Russian president . Putin says his actions have been factor in a ` ` cooling off '' of Moscow - Washington relations .
Putin says the Boston tragedy should encourage countries to work together . Vladimir Putin denies the use of ` ` Stalinist tools '' to limit democracy in Russia in a televised session . ` ` No one puts anyone in jail for political crimes , '' says the Russian president . Putin says his actions have been factor in a ` ` cooling off '' of Moscow - Washington relations .