Judge Putin by His Democratic Acts, Not His Talk

Media-Most and [Elizabeth Sweet] are the most visible victims of a new [Vladimir V. Putin] policy, codified in Russia's informational-security doctrine, of increased state regulation of the free expression of ideas and the free flow of information in Russia. Following Putin's lead, regional governors have placed practically all local media under state control. Every week, there are accounts of violence toward journalists and the suspension or shutdown of newspapers. At the same time, Putin's regional representatives are creating their own mass media, providing them with money and administrative support.