Journalist asks if the government should do something to promote "positive content" on the Internet. Putin says the government is already doing that and giving grants for such projects and will continue to do so.
A regional journalist asks Putin what he thinks about "responsible journalism." Putin says "there is strength in truth" and "that is the only way the media can win the trust of the people." Says media is now too much "commercialized." Putin says journalists must try to be as objective as possible.
Journalist from Afghanistan asks about negotiating with the Taliban and Putin says it depends on what they are discussing and that it is not possible to ignore a force that controls a lot of Afghan territory.
A reporter at the Putin presser with Navalny printed across the back of his shirt. The opposition politician says at least "one good journalist" at the event.
Next journalist asks whether law on "foreign agents" should be expanded to cover individual people, noting that Butina was arrested in the United States as an unregistered individual agent. Putin notes that U.S. law is much harsher than Russia's and defends Russia's law on foreign agents, although he says there are cases where charitable work has been affected by the law incorrectly.
The same journalist also asked about the split in Orthodoxy as the Ukrainian church tries to gain independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. Putin says this is a gross political interference in religious affairs by the state that didn't even happen in Soviet times. Also hints at a nefarious role in this dispute by the United States, and the impact of Ukraine's presidential election. Says it is bad for religious freedom and will lead to a "division of property" that could be "difficult, even bloody." Talks about defenseless, unarmed people left to the whims of fate.
Ekho Moskvy takes aim at one of the many soft questions tossed Putin's way during the press conference: When will you get married, Mr. President?"
Next journalist notes the "yellow jacket" protests in France over rising gas prices and asks Putin if he foresees similar protests in Russia. Putin says the state must "definitely" protect the right of people to express their opinions, but at the same time it must be done "within the framework of the law." Putin says it would be improper to assess the French government in connection with the protests, and then proceeds to do exactly that. In Russia, he says, gas prices went up last year because of increases in the price of oil but the government immediately introduced measures to soften the blow.
Next journalist asks about Russian-British relations, whether Putin met with British Prime Minister May at G-20 in Argentina, what Brexit means for Russia. Putin says he spoke briefly with May but they didn't meet. Putin says Brexit will only touch Russia indirectly. Praises role of BP in Rosneft. Putin says May has to go ahead with Brexit because there was a referendum and you have to respect democracy. "Of course, that is their business," he adds.