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Russian President Vladimir Putin's 12th annual press conference was staged in front of around 1,500 selected journalists in Moscow, many of whom wave signs to try to get their questions addressed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's 12th annual press conference was staged in front of around 1,500 selected journalists in Moscow, many of whom wave signs to try to get their questions addressed.

Live Blog: Putin's Annual Press Conference

The Russian president fields selected questions on domestic and international affairs, with the country showing signs it might pull out of recession in 2017 and Russia's military supporting Assad in Syria and separatists in eastern Ukraine.

-- At his press conference with selected journalists on December 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's tweet on nuclear capabilities as "nothing new" but warned of the threat of a new arms race with the United States if any side develops antimissile systems.

-- Putin also paraphrased Trump on the election-hacking question, saying, "How would we know it was Russia ...[and not] someone lying on a sofa who did it?"

-- He vowed that the assassination this week of Russia's ambassador to Ankara, Andrei Karlov, would not damage Russia-Turkey ties.

-- Putin downplayed the possibility of an early Russian presidential election in 2017, saying, "It is possible, but inexpedient." He left open whether he would run for a fourth term.

-- Putin cited "reasons for optimism" on Russia's economy and an "overall positive dynamic" based on 0.6 percent economic contraction in 2016.

-- On doping in sports, Putin called it "unthinkable" that Russia had any state program for doping (despite mounting evidence in multiple reports from international athletic groups, including another damning announcement today).

* NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Moscow (GMT/UTC +3)

09:47 23.12.2016

After joking about "on which side" of the ocean the WSJ reporter was referring to in his question about possible early presidential elections in 2017, Putin answered by saying, "It is possible, but inexpedient."

09:46 23.12.2016

Next question comes from a reporter from the Ukrainian region of Crimea, which Russian annexed in 2014. Asks what Putin thinks about how Crimea is developing. Asks about plans to provide electricity and natural gas in order to accelerate development. Asks about the Kerch Bridge, which is under construction.

09:45 23.12.2016
09:45 23.12.2016
09:44 23.12.2016

Putin says Trump said often during the campaign that he wanted to bolster the US nuclear arsenal. Putin says Russia is already stronger than any potential "aggressor." Says modernization of the nuclear arsenal is part of Russia's overall defense modernization. Includes all three legs of the nuclear triad. New land-based missiles, new submarines, new air-based systems. In "strict accordance" with all international obligations. Notes that US unilaterally withdrew from the ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) treaty, which was a cornerstone of the international order.

09:42 23.12.2016

“When you are at the Putin’s press conference and have to laugh at his jokes.”

09:41 23.12.2016

Wall Street Journal asks about Putin's comment from yesterday to improve Russia's nuclear arsenal. Asks whether Putin meant the construction of new types of nuclear weapons, whether there will be new nuclear-weapons test, whether Putin's comments were a response to U.S. President-elect Trump's comments about bolster U.S. nuclear arsenals.

09:39 23.12.2016

Wall Street Journal reporter gets first question from a foreign media outlet.

09:39 23.12.2016

Putin's answer on the Nemtsov investigation: "I fully support the investigation into the case (of Nemtsov's killing). I hope that all the people involved and those guilty off that crime will be found. Unfortunately, officials and representatives of law enforcement structures sometimes commit crimes. That happens not only in Russia, but abroad as well. An example is the killing of our diplomat in Turkey. You know who killed him [a police officer]. I know that all the high-profile cases in Russia are being investigated to the end. The killing of (Galina) Starovoitova, for instance. Unfortunately, the killing of Mikhail Manevich has not been investigated to the end yet. It is still not clear who did it. I knew him personally ....

09:38 23.12.2016

We're 30 minutes into this. So far, he's discussed the economy, agriculture, investment into high-tech, the central bank, criminal investigations including of ousted Economy Minister Ulyukayev and into Nemtsov's slaying, and privatization.

As Shaun Walker noted, there are no follow-up questions in this format.

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