MOSCOW, June 10. /ITAR-TASS/. President Vladimir Putin warned against human rights restrictions in the guise of fighting negative phenomena on the Internet, such as pedophilia or propaganda of suicides.

“No restrictions on human rights and freedoms, which are proclaimed a top priority in our Constitution, must be imposed under this pretext, and nothing running counter to the interests of free market should be introduced,” Putin said at a forum entitled “Internet Entrepreneurship in Russia” on Tuesday, June 10.

At the same time, he stressed that the Internet should be regulated by law.

Putin noted that Internet entrepreneurship had become a profitable business in Russia and generated 8.5% of GDP. “One way or another, the markets engaged in online business operations generate more than five trillion rubles. That’s a lot of money,” he said.

The president noted that the Russian state should support those who can and want to work online.

About a year ago Russia created a fund to support Internet startups. It has amassed about six billion rubles up to date. “I would like to see this money working effectively and growing as projects evolve to benefit the economy and society in general and the people who actively work on the Internet,” Putin said.