The state should not increase its presence...

"It is difficult to speak about freedom of enterprise when some market sectors are practically closed to it and are artificially monopolized by state companies," Putin said during the Prime Minister"s annual address to the lower house of parliament.

Putin said the government did not go down the nationalization route during the crisis and did not intend to now.

"I believe any proposal on the acquisition of new assets, both for state ownership and ownership by state companies must undergo special treatment ... to avoid total re-nationalization," he said.

MOSCOW, April 20 (RIA Novosti)