HispanicBusiness

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinskiy has denied allegations of censorship in Russia, the Interfax news agency reported on 23 November.

"There are no restrictions, there is no censorship in the country on any accounts. Believe it or not, this causes indignation among a large part of population," Medinskiy was quoted as telling a briefing at the Russian Foreign Ministry on 22 November.

He added: "Three out of four letters sent to me - via the Internet, Twitter or mail - begin with the following words: 'When will you put an end to this disgrace and shut down this or that TV programme?'"

However, Medinskiy noted that the Culture Ministry was not in charge of television.

Meanwhile, asked to comment on the Pussy Riot female punk band case he said that the band members had been convicted as hooligans, not artists.

"They have nothing to do with art, either with modern or ancient or any art at all," the agency quoted Medinskiy as saying.