President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned that Russia could change agreements for the adoption of Russian children made with France and other Western states that are legalising gay marriage. "I consider it fully correct to make changes to the appropriate documents. It is a current issue and we need to think about it," Putin said at a meeting with lawmakers. "We need to react to what is going on around us. We respect our partners but ask (that they) respect the cultural traditions and ethical, legal and moral norms of Russia," Putin said, quoted by Russian news agencies.

A Russian court on Thursday slapped $13,000 worth of fines on the election monitor Golos, in the first ruling under a new "foreign agent" law that observers say will lead to closures of many organisations across the country. The move comes amid mounting criticism from activists that Moscow is cracking down on NGOs with repressive laws and a wave of raids on their offices by prosecutors.

A Russian court on Thursday slapped $13,000 worth of fines on the election monitor Golos, in the first ruling under a new "foreign agent" law that observers say will lead to closures of many organisations across the country. The move comes amid mounting criticism from activists that Moscow is cracking down on NGOs with repressive laws and a wave of raids on their offices by prosecutors.

Moscow, Apr 25 (EFE).- President Vladimir Putin says he see "no element of Stalinism" in Russia and denies his government is holding political prisoners. "Stalinism is linked to the cult of personality, mass violations of the law, repressions and camps," the Russian leader said Thursday in response to a question during his annual live phone-in session. A liberal journalist posed the question after Human Rights Watch released a report asserting that Russia is experienced the biggest campaign of repression since the fall of the Soviet Union.