Vladimir Putin warns Russian artists against offending religious believers

iNEWS
By Serina Sandhu

RUSSIA---Russian president Vladimir Putin has suggested that the Charlie Hebdo attack could have been avoided if the magazine had not printed cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. He made the comments as he warned artists in Russia against offending religious believers. At a meeting with figures from Russia’s art world, Mr Putin pledged to protect the freedom of artist expression but said freedom came with “responsibility”. There is a very narrow edge between dangerous buffoonery and freedom of expression.” The President said art needed to avoid splitting society. [link]

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting about the arts (Adam Berry/Getty Images)