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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks via video call during his annual news conference in Moscow on December 17.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks via video call during his annual news conference in Moscow on December 17.

Live Blog: Putin's Annual Press Conference 2020

For 4 1/2 hours, Russian President Vladimir Putin took questions from reporters on December 17 in his highly choreographed annual news conference. Our experienced team of Russia-watchers listened intently to it all, and tell us what was news, what was not, and provide perspective on the answers.

-- Putin dismissed a fresh investigative report pointing to involvement by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in the poisoning of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny and alleged, without evidence, that the Russian opposition leader was working for U.S. intelligence.

-- Putin said that Russia, like other countries, faced problems in 2020 linked to COVID-19 but that the country handled the pandemic better than most. Russia, with a population of around 145 million, has the world’s fourth-highest number of confirmed cases at around 2.7 million and the 10th-highest number of COVID-19 deaths.

-- Putin forecast that Russian GDP would fall 3.6 percent in 2020, a figure he said was lower than the United States and European Union. He said the country’s financial system is “stable” and personal incomes are set to rise by 1.5 percent by the end of the year, although Russians might not feel that.

*Time stamps indicate local time in Moscow

10:23 17.12.2020

Now answers Navalny question, calling him "the patient at a Berlin clinic." Says he has answered this question many times. "We perfectly well understand that this report is the legalization of information from American spy agencies," he says. Says "the patient" is supported by U.S. secret services. Claims that he personally gave the order for Navalny to be released to Germany "the very moment" that he was asked. Says that we should judge Navalny by who his "partner" is. Putin says people should show their worth through "concrete deeds" and he calls all government opponents to think not about their personal ambitions, but about the good of the country.

10:23 17.12.2020

As before, Putin does not refer to Aleksei Navalny by name; calls him 'the patient.'

10:27 17.12.2020

Next question is about the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the future of relations with Ukraine. Putin says the future of relations depends primarily on the government of Ukraine. Says the Zelenskiy government promised to resolve the conflict, but after it came to power it came under the influence of "extreme nationalist forces."

Putin praises the current cease-fire in the Donbas, but says nothing has been done regarding political and economic settlements. Blames Kyiv for not implementing the Minsk agreements.

Putin says a settlement is inevitable, but when it will happen depends on Kyiv. Says Russia has been "helping" the Donbas and intends to increase its support.

10:28 17.12.2020

Putin, without evidence, claims that investigative report pointing to the FSB in Navalny's poisoning is a fabrication and the "legalization" -- or laundering -- of U.S. intelligence assertions.

10:30 17.12.2020

It wasn't clear if Putin would address the bombshell investigation from earlier this week by Bellingcat, along with The Insider, Der Spiegel, and CNN. (Among other things, the investigation found that prior to Navalny's Novichok poisoning in August, during a trip to Siberia, he had been trailed by FSB agents, some of whom had backgrounds in chemicals and toxins.)

He did end up addressing the issue.

Not surprisingly, he dismissed it all -- and blamed it on the United States.

"We know what this is. It's the legalization of materials from U.S. intelligence agencies... He is supported by U.S. intelligence."

("Legalization" basically means "laundering.")

He also asserted the Bellingcat investigation was a "trick" or a "ruse" aimed at denigrating Russia's government.

10:36 17.12.2020

10:38 17.12.2020

Here is RFE/RL's story on the report regarding Putin's former son-in-law and how he allegedly used his connections to amass a vast fortune. Putin claimed the report is just disinformation from the U.S. secret services aimed at interfering in Russia's internal affairs.

10:44 17.12.2020

Ukraine.

Putin gets a question about the Donbas, the region of eastern Ukraine where a conflict between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed militias has been going on since April 2014. More than 13,000 people have been killed, more than 1 million have been forced from their homes.

Though relatively quiet at this present time, the conflict there is very much a hot one, and there's been virtually no progress toward resolving it in recent months.

Asked about the prospects for a settlement, Putin puts (somewhat disingenuously) the burden on Ukrainian authorities.

He asserts all Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, came to power under pledges for settlement and reconstruction. But nothing comes of them... There is not enough political will. Nothing has been done in terms of a political settlement.

Resolution is inevitable, the question is when, he says. And Russia has supported the Donbas and will continue to support it. And will even increase support, he says.

(This isn't exactly a hopeful sign that resolution is imminent...)

10:47 17.12.2020

As is usual, reporters hold up signs during the news conference, trying to get the attention of the Kremlin spokesman, so that they can be called on, to ask their question (on live national television, no less).

As in past years, some of the signs this year have been, shall we say, unusual:

10:51 17.12.2020

Next question is from St. Petersburg. Asks when will the borders be reopened for foreign tourists. Putin says that he loves St. Petersburg as much as anyone and all Russians love it as well. Says the city is "a magnet" for tourists. Praises the architecture, both traditional and modern.

But opening borders depends on the pandemic and the infection rate in St. Petersburg is still "very high." Putin says hospitalization rate there is higher than the national average. Putin says as soon as doctors say it is possible, borders will be reopened. Says government is helping the tourism industry, including by promoting domestic tourism.

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