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PUTIN'S INTERVIEW TO TASS

Media should behave responsibly, not ‘spew nonsense’ — Putin

Otherwise they will turn into a "gang" serving private interests, Putin said

MOSCOW, October 7. /TASS/. Mass media, which have great influence on their audience, should behave responsibly, otherwise they will turn into a "gang" serving private interests, Russian President Vladimir Putin said

Speaking in an interview for the TASS project entitled "20 Questions with Vladimir Putin" the Russian head of state agreed to the opinion that the press is the fourth branch of power in the society.

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"The media has an impact on public opinion and in this respect it is certainly a power. How could it be otherwise? In the modern world, it is particularly relevant and important," he said.

At the same time, Putin added that "the media should not talk glibly and spew nonsense."

"Authority implies responsibility, but without responsibility it would be nothing more than a gang, which pursues its own, corporate, and purely personal interests," he said.

"There are many cases when bribes are used to buy off this fourth branch of power you are talking about. Some people are ready to do anything to remain untouched. Do not pretend to be surprised! Some people - business people - do pay money just to remain untouched," Putin added. "And this fourth branch of power of yours eagerly swallows it and turns a blind eye to those who pay up."

At the same time, Putin stressed that the state’s total control over the information space is impossible, due to a large number of media outlets popping up online.

"Go ahead and try changing the Internet’s mind," the president suggested. "It’s the media today. It is quite obvious that this is a part of the media, but the format is different. <…> It is also a mass medium. Many people, mostly young people aged 17 to 24, do not watch TV anymore. They surf the Internet."

The project entitled "20 Questions with Vladimir Putin" and devoted to the 20th anniversary of Putin’s work at the helm of the Russian state, was launched on February 20, 2020. The TASS news agency has already released 17 episodes of the interview, but decided to suspend the project due to drastic changes in the global information space. Today’s episode of the interview will be the final one.

The final episode of the video interview is available at https://putin.tass.ru/en.

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Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

Iran suspends flights above several cities amid reports of air attack — IRNA

Fox News said the Jewish state delivered a limited strike on Iran

NATO discussing transfer of ‘deep precision strike capabilities’ to Ukraine — Stoltenberg

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Senior Chinese official to take part in conference on security in Russia — diplomat

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Iran intends to bolster military cooperation with Russia — envoy to Moscow

Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

Lavrov views situation in Middle East as 'very bad'

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The Lebanese Shiite organization "would not accept that the Israelis transgress the rules of engagement that are currently set in the south" of Lebanon

Israel assesses effectiveness, consequences of strike on Iran — media

A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces declined to comment on the reports of the strike

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Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

Sergey Shoigu handed down an instruction for the defense enterprise to ramp up the production of T-80BVM tanks, the Defense Ministry said

Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

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CIA chief says Ukraine could lose by end of this year — Politico

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Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister said Kiev required US-made Patriot systems and Italian-French Samp-T theatre antimissile systems

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Tasnim refuted foreign media reports about an incident at a nuclear site in Isfahan

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

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Kremlin declines to comment on alleged assassination attempt on Zelensky in Poland

The Security Service of Ukraine announced earlier that in a joint operation with law enforcement agencies in Ukraine and Poland it thwarted an attempt to assassinate Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

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West frightens voters by 'Russian threat' to win elections — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat pointed out that the anti-Russian rhetoric of Western politicians in power intensifies as the elections approach

Lavrov describes Georgia’s bill on foreign agents as 'mildest of all'

The top Russian diplomat stressed that the Georgian bill on foreign agents suggested only the need to declare funds, if the organization in question received more than 20% of its funding from abroad

Russia ready for Ukraine talks, but not with Zelensky — Lavrov

The first negotiations between Russia and Ukraine after the start of the special military operation took place in early March 2022 in Belarus, but they did not bring tangible results

US blackmails other countries at United Nations — Russian mission

Dmitry Polyansky said "this shameful neocolonial tactics are fully exposed now in the context of Gaza War"

Yerevan's refusal to delimit borders with Baku to escalate regional tensions — PM

Nikol Pashinyan pointed out that the demarcation process also involves risks, but they are manageable, after which "Armenia will become ten times stronger"

At least 16 Syrian troops killed in terrorists’ ambush in east Syria — TV

According to the Al Hadath television, a military bus was ambushed by members of the Islamic State terrorist group

Israel to not take responsibility for attack on Iran — newspaper

Israeli sources also said that they did not understand why the Pentagon had leaked information about Israel's involvement in the attack to the media

French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

Zelensky's formula should be put aside for Ukraine talks, Lavrov says

"One should clearly support the need to seek solutions that take into account the balance of security interests and ensure the indivisibility of security," the top Russian diplomat underlined

Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

EU border checkpoint closest to Russia’s St. Petersburg to cut its working hours

The changes were attributed to reconstruction works on the Russian side of the checkpoint Ivangorod

No plans for pauses in fighting if talks on Ukraine begin, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister emphasized that the situation on the ground had changed significantly

Hungary to not intervene in Ukrainian conflict on any side, PM says

Viktor Orban believes the first phase of the conflict, which included proposals on sending troops to Ukraine, is over

Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

Viktor Orban noted that there should be a buffer zone between NATO and Russia and Ukraine could serve as one

Israeli Air Force attacks airfield in southern Syria during strike on Iran

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US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

A total of 12 countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the document