The leaders of the European Union and Russia exchanged sharp words on human rights and Georgia on Friday, after talks intended to clear the air following New Year disruptions of Russian gas supplies to Europe. EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he had raised concerns about several high-profile murders of Russian reporters and human rights activists, drawing a sharp response from Russia's powerful prime minister, Vladimir Putin, according to Reuters. "I informed Medvedev that in European public opinion there is some concern regarding some recent events ... the murder of some journalists and human rights activists," Barroso said at a joint briefing with Putin. Putin said he was concerned by violations of the rights of Russian-speaking minorities in Baltic states, and accused the European Union of breaching the human rights of immigrants. "I ask you to accept the puck from the Russian government," Putin said.
