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Salam Musafir: We are going to celebrate our channel's anniversary. Russia Today has become a major holding. Some out there wanted to choke us, of course, but they failed. We are still in business, and people still watch and love us. Would you like to say, maybe, a few kind words about our work over these twenty years?

Vladimir Putin: Honestly, when this idea of creating Russia Today first came up, I could not have guessed that it would gain such scale, such quality and evolve in this way. Congratulations on the job.

You'll ask why I was in doubt. It's because it is not that easy to fit into an already established system of international global mass media. And then, indeed, quite surprisingly to me, Russia Today found its special niche, its own place. Amazingly, millions of people worldwide increasingly watch you, listen to you, follow what you and your colleagues on the channel have to say.

Sometimes I ask myself: why is it so? The answer is simple: because, despite all the pressure put on RT journalists, despite all kinds of bans, sanctions, administrative and financial restrictions, you say what you think. And this quite often disagrees with the so-called global media mainstream. But it is precisely this otherness, coupled with the professionalism with which you deliver information, the sincerity with which you do it, and the honesty, reliability, and objectivity of your information perceived by your viewers that wins their hearts, so that the audience is rapidly growing. I congratulate you on that, in the first place.

And now, the wishes. I wish you to follow this chosen path in future and share your views on key issues of the international agenda with millions of people all over the world. I believe that this is the point of your work and your life.

Congratulations on your success!