Human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin on 11 September criticized those who advocate \"tightening the screws\" on society in the wake of the recent terrorist incidents, RTR reported. \"This is talk from people who are unable to deal with the difficult problems with which we live in a relatively more or less free society,\" Lukin said. Lukin compared the atmosphere in Russia today with what happened in the United States following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. \"What happened there? Did they abolish democracy? Did they forbid citizens from the provinces from coming to Washington and New York? Nothing of the sort,\" Lukin said. \"They set up an independent commission with representatives of many elements of civil society. The president accepted its recommendations with gratitude. And now we can see that in the course of three years there have not been major acts of terror [in the United States].\" Lukin alleged that he had been illegally prevented by Moscow authorities from appearing on television during the Beslan hostage crisis. (RFE/RL)