Putin avoids mention of foe Navalny in Davos speech, but takes swipe at social media

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Jan. 27 that the growing clout of U.S. social media giants means they now compete with governments. (Video: Reuters)

MOSCOW — Amid international calls for Russia to free jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin took aim Wednesday at the power of Navalny's biggest weapon: social media.

In a video address to the World Economic Forum, Putin did not directly mention Navalny or the protests across Russia last Saturday calling for his release. But Putin's remarks about "digital giants" were an apparent swipe at Navalny's opposition network and its use of social media sites to call attention to alleged corruption.