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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

10:56 17.12.2020

Commenter points out that one of Putin's remarks about Navalny echoes a remark he made five years ago about Boris Nemtsov, an opposition leader and vocal critic who was shot dead near the Kremlin in February 2015.

10:56 17.12.2020

Next question is from Channel One state television in Moscow. Asks whether the delays in the National Projects were brought on by the pandemic or by some other problems. Putin says the country's strategic goals have not changed, although the pandemic has extended the timeline. Putin says that because of the pandemic, some of the resources intended for the National Projects have been diverted to "direct support to citizens." Repeats that he thinks government worked very effectively during the pandemic "day and night."

10:57 17.12.2020

After a journalist complains of being criticized for his stance on an electrical energy station, Putin brings up poisoning and assassinations in what might be a tongue-in-cheek reference to accusations surrounding Navalny's poisoning.

11:01 17.12.2020

Next question is from Rossiiskaya Gazeta. Asks why the constitution was amended earlier this year. "Why exactly now?" she asked.

Putin notes that the constitution was adopted in the early 1990s when the country was falling apart and it "played a stabilizing role." It served as the basis for Russia's political development.

"Now we have a different situation," he said. For example, he says it wasn't possible in 1993 to promise to index social benefits to inflation, but now that can be done. He says in 1993 it wasn't possible even to guarantee the country's territorial integrity, but now it is possible. So that's why the constitution had to be changed.

"All of this we can now establish in the basic law," he said.

Then he thanks the public for sending in their suggested amendments and for participating in the nonbinding poll (which Putin calls a "de facto referendum") on the amendments.

11:04 17.12.2020

Putin suggests that if the Russian state had wanted to kill Kremlin foe Aleksei Navalny, it would have "finished the job" -- he would not have survived the poisoning. But many observers say that numerous past events in Russia indicate that the FSB and other authorities and agents of the state often fail to achieve their desired aim.

11:05 17.12.2020

11:08 17.12.2020

Peskov notes that the press conference has already lasted more than 2 hours and everyone using a single-use mask should change theirs now.

11:14 17.12.2020

11:15 17.12.2020

Here's the full clip of where Putin is asked about Aleksei Navalny and the recent Bellingcat investigation (in Russian):

11:15 17.12.2020

Next question: "Among world leaders, which one has been the most difficult interlocutor for you?" Same journalist also asks about Nord Stream 2 pipeline project -- will it be finished?

Putin says there are no "convenient or inconvenient" interlocutors in international politics. They are all capable and qualified people pursuing their national interests.

"And I am the same," he said.

Praises China's President Xi. Praises Turkey's Erdogan as a "man who keeps his word" despite Russia's differences with Turkey.

As for Nord Stream 2, he says this is obviously a good project for Germany and Western Europe. Says American natural gas can't compete and would mean a spike in inflation in Europe. The project corresponds with the national interests of Europe, and particularly Germany.

Putin emphasizes it is "purely an economic project." Putin said the project is almost finished and will be finished soon. Expressed hope that new U.S. administration will "respect" Germany and engage in good-faith competition.

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