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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)

12:11 23.12.2016

Next question is about the recent controversy between filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov and the Yeltsin Center in Yekaterinburg, whether the center is sufficiently patriotic. Putin says he has met with Mikhalkov and others and says "there are questions related to the presentation of information about the history of Russia" that need to be resolved -- including about recent history and the distant past. But, on the whole, Putin says he opposes effort to increase tensions over these questions. Says there is nothing wrong with fact that some people have "liberal" views on history and some have "traditional" views. Notes that next year Russia will mark the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution and calls on the country to use this as an opportunity for reconciliation.

12:11 23.12.2016
12:13 23.12.2016

Next question is about the construction of new nuclear-power plants, says that many environmental groups are "foreign agents" who are interfering with the development of this sector.

12:14 23.12.2016
12:16 23.12.2016

Putin says environmental organizations are sometimes used by "our competitors" to suppress growing elements of the economy. Says he remembers how foreign government used environmental groups to stop Russian port development. Putin says Rosatom has very safe technology and has learned from the experiences of the Soviet Union, Fukushima, and others. Calls for deep study of all matters, including economic and environmental impact of nuclear-power plants.

12:19 23.12.2016
12:20 23.12.2016

Next question: Reporter from Znak.ru says Putin makes good, pretty statements in his speeches but nothing changes. For example, Putin speaks about the need to unite society, fight corruption, need to elect governors, etc. Reporter says the elite in Russia is challenging and defying Russia. Why do you say one thing and we keep seeing the opposite? Mentions criminal cases and long sentences against people who merely post things or like things on social media.

12:24 23.12.2016

Putin says that in recent years, the government has done a lot to make country's criminal laws more humane and that work will continue. Notes that Russia is "a large, complex country." Notes that people purposely create controversial art exhibits, presentations to get attention and this sometimes offends people. Putin says that he agrees that managers in state companies should get smaller bonuses, even if larger ones are legal, and shouldn't build huge homes that offend people. Putin says that representatives of culture "often" come to him to complain about "terrorism" from journalists and asks journalists not to intrude in the personal lives of cultural figures and athletes. Says people should be nicer and more considerate to one another.

12:25 23.12.2016
12:27 23.12.2016

Next question is about the international situation -- terrorism, migrant crisis, new president in the U.S. -- and how will this affect relations between Russia and China. Putin says the two countries have "more than a strategic partnership." China is Russia's largest trading partner. Lauds cooperation in aviation, energy, space. Putin notes the two countries have common views on many international questions. Says Moscow is counting on continued good relations.

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