Medvedev: Democracy key to development

YAROSLAVL, Russia, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Changes to Russia's political system should be gradual and can be accomplished only "by free people," President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday.

Medvedev also told participants at the Global Policy Forum in the Russian river port city of Yaroslavl the development of democracy provides citizens an incentive to change, RIA Novosti reported.

"Modernization can only be carried out by free people. (A) man who is afraid of the government, law enforcement agencies, opponents and life is unable to engage in modernization," Medvedev said. "The development of democratic institutions gives people an incentive for modernization."

Medvedev said democratic growth is vital to the development of Russia's economic and political system.

"Democracy is developing" he said, "and this is natural."