The criticism of Russian authorities has never disappeared from the media and the Internet, while lies and libel carry a penalty, Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volod said in an interview Tuesday.

"I would like to reiterate that criticism has never been removed from the media or the Internet in any way and nobody has suffered for it ever. We have a penalty for libel, for lies. I think you’ll agree that one cannot speak lies about anyone arbitrarily," Volodin said in response to the idea that criticism of power is allegedly forbidden in Russia.

The speaker pointed out that, in the State Duma, "one party criticizes another, criticizes ministers from a tribune.".