Russian President Dmitry Medvedev spoke out against xenophobic rhetoric during the election campaign
October 17, 2011 at a meeting with management Federation Council in the city of Gorki (Moscow region), Russian President Dmitry Medvedev supported the idea introduction of a voluntary moratorium on the use of national themes during election campaigns and warned that fanning xenophobic sentiments will be punished by law, with no allowance for freedom of speech. "Now is a very hot period in the country - it is campaign for elections to the State Duma, then there will be a presidential campaign.