Putin Reacts to 'Time' POY Pick

It seems obvious that Time magazine did not mean to praise Vladimir Putin by naming him Person of the Year for 2007. But that's not how Putin chooses to see it.

Moments, ago, the Russian president dispatched his press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, to put a happy gloss on the selection. "Of course we treat it as an acknowledgment of the role that was played by President Putin in helping to pull Russia out of the economic and social troubles of the '90s and in restoring national pride in this country," Peskov told reporters in a teleconference. "This is extremely important for Russia."

Of the interview for the story, conducted last week, Peskov said, "[Putin] was really satisfied. He actually always is, in dealing with media, both Russian media and [international]. He is very sensitive in trying to open all the details, in trying to answer all the questions, explaining every possible corner and trying to convey his attitude and position on the issues."

I asked Peskov how Putin felt about Time's assertion that he has "dramatically curtailed freedoms."

"Certainly we cannot agree with all aspects of the attitude of Time magazine," he replied. "Time magazine is free to express their understanding, and President Putin was free during the interview to express his understanding. This is something that we disagree with."

"As to the understanding of any suppression of freedoms in Russia," he continued, it's a product of "stereotypes of the past and sometimes it is based on simply leak of information."

Addressing criticism that the recent Duma elections were not fully free and fair, he said, "I would say sometimes some observers are coming here with homework, home-prepared observation results. And the observation mission itself is not so important for them. This is again something we cannot accept."

"To make the story short, I would disagree with that part of the story of Time magazine, but again they are free in writing about their impressions."