The Russian President gave a large press conference for the first time in four years. More than a thousand journalists were accredited for the event. Kommersant-Online noted the most interesting moments and unexpected turns of the discussion.

On the response to the Magnitsky Act

Ksenia Sokolova, “Snob”: In response to the Magnitsky Act, the State Duma adopted prohibitive measures regarding the adoption of Russian children by Americans. Do you think this answer is adequate? Is it normal for children to become weapons in political struggles?

Vladimir Putin: You just said that this is a response to the “Magnitsky law”, I will tell you how I feel about this. This is, of course, an unfriendly act towards Russia. And it’s not about officials; we ourselves believe that our officials should have accounts in Russian banks. If our colleagues abroad help identify violators, we will be grateful to them and are ready to issue a bonus. But it’s not about the officials - one anti-Russian law was replaced by another. Everyone is trying to stay in the past, it poisons our relationships. Regarding adoption, as far as I know of public opinion polls, the majority of citizens have a negative attitude towards the adoption of our children by foreigners. Dmitry Medvedev's proposal yesterday is correct: we need to develop the system internally and remove bureaucratic barriers. The State Duma’s reaction is a reaction to the position of the American authorities: when crimes are committed against Russian children, the American government does not react to it. Russian representatives are actually not allowed to attend these processes even as observers. The fool was simply turned on - that’s all. What about Abu Ghraib prison? We would have been devoured by now, but they are silent. Maybe the torture continues there. What about the CIA's secret prisons? Who is punished?

About the ban on adoption

Alexander Kolesnichenko, “Arguments and Facts”: I am an adoptive parent myself. Regardless of what is happening in the United States, I consider the amendments inadequate and cannibalistic. They say that we have enough funds to care for orphans. But that's not true. I think this is a scam.

V.P.: I categorically disagree with you. This is not about specific people, but about the attitude of the American authorities to specific cases. And I tell you again: they simply do not allow Russian representatives. Do you think this is normal? Are you a sadomasochist, or what? The fact that you adopted a child is an honor and praise to you. I hope many people will follow your example. As for our judicial system, which may be overly concerned with these issues, this may depend on the personality of the judge.

*Clarification from Echo of Moscow*: What is your personal attitude to the amendments presented on adoption?

V.P.: I don’t know the details, I haven’t seen the text. In general, I formulated my attitude to the problem quite clearly. Will I sign or not? I have to look at the text. I support. But we still have an agreement, I need to see what’s there. This is not an idle question.

Dozhd: Clarification about the “Dima Yakovlev Law”: is the opinion of the intelligentsia important to you, especially since these people are generally against the amendments made?

V.P.: The opinion of every Russian person is important to me, even if it is not the majority. But nonetheless. This is not about problems with specific US citizens - they are adopting our children with the best intentions. The question is about the attitude of the American authorities to problems when they arise.

Novaya Gazeta: Novaya Gazeta managed to collect 100 thousand signatures against the adoption of the “Dima Yakovlev Law.” I hope you will take note of this.

V.P.: Yes, 100 thousand signatures should be the basis for considering this issue in the State Duma.

Read about how orphans are adopted in Russia in the Kommersant-Online help .

About the Magnitsky case

LA Times: You said a lot in relation to Evgenia Vasilyeva and regarding the thefts at Oboronservis, that we are not in 1937. But, for example, speaking about Magnitsky, the year 1937 has arrived. Russia had three years to answer what happened. But there is no answer. You show awareness in other matters, but not here. What happened to the millions of dollars that customs inspectors allegedly stole from the budget?

(Applause)

V.P.: Explain what this is? Do you support the issue? Fine.

V.P.: When the tragedy happened, I learned about it from the media. I feel like I'm going to have to dive into this. But listen. I understand that you work for the LA Times, and not for Pravda or Izvestia. The American authorities, having gotten rid of one anti-Russian act (the Jackson-Vanik amendment - Kommersant), are forced to immediately adopt another. So that we don't relax. This makes us sad. I don’t know the details, but Magnitsky died of a heart attack, not from torture. Nobody tortured him. If you left a person without help, then you need to find out what happened there. So, they don’t die in American prisons, or what? That's enough. So what, are we going to figure this out now? Everything related to this case is extremely politicized, and we didn’t do it.

About the case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Reuters: There was a message on the tapes that a decision had been made to shorten the term of detention of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. It is clear that the court cannot make this decision without your consent. You said that “a thief should be in prison.” Maybe Khodorkovsky has already sat long enough and that’s enough?

V.P.: You have the wrong idea about the functioning of our judicial system. I haven't been president for four years. I did not influence the activities of law enforcement agencies. As for Mikhail Borisovich himself... What, was he involved in politics? Were you a deputy? Did you lead the party? No, we are talking purely about an economic crime. Look at the USA - they even give 100 years for economic crimes. There is no need to politicize these issues. I hope that in accordance with the law, Mikhail Borisovich will be released, God bless him.

Journalist: Enough with Khodorkovsky, enough with Magnitsky, come fishing!

About the “Bolotnaya case”

Lenta.ru, Ilya Azar: I would like to remember your phrase about spiritual bonds. For example, Akimenko is in prison and is rapidly losing his sight. And Mrs. Vasilyeva, who has caused more harm than Akimenko, sits in a 13-room apartment and demands a cleaner.

V.P.: The Investigative Committee has no enemies, the Investigative Committee is obliged to monitor the implementation of the legislation. As for that Georgian politician (Givi Targamadze - Kommersant), he is not at all an enemy of Russia, but he tried to incite Russian citizens to illegal actions. I think this was shown very convincingly. I must tell you a state secret - they accidentally entered a controlled room. I don’t think that people should be put in prison for participating in mass protests. But assault against a representative of an authority is unacceptable. Try to put your hand in your pocket in the USA and you will immediately receive a bullet in the forehead. Why does anyone think that we are allowed to attack the police? We will destroy the police system. You need to approach it extremely carefully. You mentioned the names... I don’t know the details. I'll see. But if it's related to what I said, I won't interfere.

V.P.: If we were spanked, we must respond. Otherwise they will always spank.

About the Oboronservis case

“Gazeta.ru”: Russia’s trust rating in you is 34%. 35% are dissatisfied with the course of your board, and growing. What do you think is the reason for the drop in ratings? Maybe this is due to the difference in the content of 18-year-old Dukhanina and the same Vasilyeva? Or with the fact that people wanted to discuss the “Magnitsky law”, and the Duma adopted it promptly?

V.P.: Just recently you said: is it really possible to go to prison for economic crimes (about Evgenia Vasilyeva - Kommersant)? Now say the opposite. Be consistent.

Vladimir Putin about Dmitry Medvedev: “For four years I served as acting head of state.”

About political competition

Nezavisimaya Gazeta: in the 2000s, people were not allowed to vote, signatures were not recognized. Analyzing your message and today's speech, the newspaper comes to the conclusion that politics is replacing political technologies. Do you agree with this? And will this give the country political competition?

V.P.: Competition will grow, we need to pay more attention to the legal political struggle, which should be a struggle of opinions. Not just: “Get rid of so-and-so!”, “Let’s clean it up.” Such people were in power, we know what they built.
“Your 6 hundred parts”: Andrey Tumanov, freelance correspondent for the magazine “Your 6 hundred parts”...

V.P.: Why freelance?

“Your 6 acres”: And now I’m in the State Duma.

V.P.: Career...
On the relocation of federal authorities from Moscow to New Moscow

“Radio Mayak”, “Vesti FM”: How likely is it that the naval headquarters will move back from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Will an administrative center be built on the territory of New Moscow and will officials move there?

V.P.: An instruction was given to calculate how much it would cost. If we want to receive funds for the sale of property in the center of the capital, we must understand how much these objects cost. We need to understand how much the new infrastructure will cost.

About the situation in Syria

Associated Press: The West is in favor of Bashar al-Assad leaving office. Russia doesn't think so. Will this not lead to Russia remaining isolated if it remains with this opinion?

V.P.: No matter how they explain their position, the state is falling apart. We are not concerned about the fate of the Assad regime. We are worried about what will happen next. We are not interested in our interests, of which there are not so many. It is necessary that people first agree on how to live further, how their safety will be ensured, and then ensure the implementation of the agreements.

About gubernatorial elections

V.P.: We are for direct elections of governors. Russian society has come to this point a long time ago. But there are questions that were recently raised by representatives of the national republics, where representatives of the titular nations live side by side. If one of them is in the minority, then she has fears that she will never be represented on the governing body. Russia is a complex state. We must keep this in mind. We don't want imbalance. We cannot give some subjects one right and others another.

Gas issue between Russia and Ukraine

V.P.: We are not talking about Ukraine joining the Customs Union, but we understand the concern of the Ukrainian leadership that as the Customs Union develops, some of the powers of states are transferred to the supranational level and it becomes increasingly difficult for Ukraine to resolve its issues. Ukrainian partners are looking for options for cooperation with the Customs Union that would be acceptable to Ukraine. We have a long-term contract, we work according to it. If we see that Ukrainian partners are facing difficulties, Gazprom meets halfway, provides loans, and pays transit payments in advance. Normal partnership work is going on. But Gazprom is also developing its infrastructure.

About the fight against corruption and the judicial system

Channel One: It is no secret that it is not so much the severity of punishment that is effective, but its inevitability. There is a feeling that the scale of corruption in Russia is associated with the lack of an independent judicial system. Do you agree with this and how to make the courts independent?

V.P.: I do not agree with the thesis that we lack the independence of the judicial system. I do not agree with the sweeping accusations of corruption against our judicial system - this is nonsense. We have a stable judicial system, it is developing. There is no need to sprinkle ashes. Corruption is our traditional problem. Issues related to corruption are directly linked to economic and market development. We must fight consistently and persistently, and increase sanctions. Punishment must be inevitable. Work is underway.

“People's Assembly”: “I criticize you very harshly in my newspaper. You probably know about this?

About Anatoly Serdyukov

“People's Assembly”: “Billions were stolen from the Ministry of Defense, don’t you know?”

V.P.: “No, I don’t know. Masha, please sit down, give me the microphone..."

V.P.: I really appointed Serdyukov at one time, he was moving in the right direction. The question in relation to people is a separate issue. A man in uniform deserves respect. As for the leadership style, there really were questions. But I fired him because the investigative authorities had reasonable evidence that the property was sold incorrectly. Yes, there are doubts about the correctness of Serdyukov’s behavior, which is why he is suspended. But “whether it was stolen or not” will be decided by the court. There is no desire to shield anyone. Be 100% sure.

On the protection of journalists

VGTRK Kabardino-Balkaria: After the death of our colleague, the question of the safety of journalists arose. How do we protect those whose weapon is the word?

V.P.: There are professions, when choosing which people understand what they are getting into. As you know, your colleague did not conduct anti-terrorist or other reports of this kind. It's just a desire to scare. I'm sure the result will be the opposite of what was expected. But we understand that it is impossible to assign security to every journalist.

About the authoritarian system of power

Izvestia: Over 19 years, you have built a rather tough regime of power, actually authoritarian. Do you think it is viable in the new times?

V.P.: I believe that we have ensured the very stability that Sergei Brilev asked about. This stability is extremely important. I cannot call this system authoritarian. The most striking example that this is not so is my decision not to run for a third term. I could have simply changed the Constitution; it could have been easily passed through parliament. But I didn't.
Novaya Gazeta: Dmitry Medvedev said that responsible authorities must admit their mistakes. Have there been any mistakes in 12 years that are worth admitting?

V.P.: Regarding Medvedev’s mistakes: which of us or you is without sin? There were probably mistakes, but to say that they were systemic... I say absolutely sincerely, if there were such mistakes, I would tell you now.

About the successor

Dozhd: When there were rallies, we always heard the answer from the authorities: “If not Putin, then who?” What do you think? Are there leaders who come from outside? Someone you can trust with the country?

V.P.: I don’t trust the country, citizens trust the country during the voting. Sooner or later, of course, I will leave this post. Of course, I am not indifferent to who will lead the country. We almost doubled the country's GDP, this is a huge achievement, just think about it. I love Russia.

About the situation in the Caucasus

“Kadyrov’s Way”: Newspaper “Kadyrov’s Way”...

V.P. (interrupts): Animation in the hall is inappropriate.

“Kadyrov’s Path”: Public attention was focused on the Chechen issue. But now the country has become a place of prosperity and prosperity. Now attention has shifted to the neighboring republic. What is the root of the problems? How to stabilize the situation?

V.P.: The media, especially in the Caucasus, play a vital role. The issue of increasing funding for the Caucasus TV channel will be considered. As for the situation in the Caucasus: in the Chechen Republic the situation is better than in neighboring republics, this, of course, is the merit of the regional authorities. The revival from the ashes of Grozny is a huge achievement of the Chechen people, of course, not without the support of the rest of Russia. The number of terrorist crimes across the country has decreased, but they still occur.

As reported by the RIA Novosti agency, after the press conference, the administration of the Itum-Kalinsky district announced the closure of the newspaper Put Kadrova. “I believe that first of all it was necessary to ask the family’s opinion, to ask whether they agree that the newspaper should be named after Kadyrov. Otherwise, it is unethical,” said the head of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov.

About Russian-American relations

Vesti: Will you instruct the Foreign Ministry to reconsider the Russian-American agreement?

V.P.: The agreement does not work. Embassy staff are not allowed in according to the agreement. This is some nonsense. If the US President agrees so easily with his legislators, then why do you think that the Russian President should not agree with his legislators?

About stable stagnation

“Vesti”: By the end of your current presidential term, those who were born when you first came to power will reach adulthood. Are you afraid that stability will turn into stagnation?

V.P.: This is a very effective expression, but it has no basis. A prerequisite for development is stability. Otherwise, who will invest money there? No matter how much they criticize the system in China, the money still goes there. Investors know that their money will not disappear as a result of some political upheaval. This does not mean that we should set up the same system as in China.

About the President's health

"Magadanskaya Pravda": Where does this information come from and who benefits from it?

V.P.: Beneficial to political opponents. I can answer the question about health traditionally: “You won’t wait.”

About winter time

V.P.: When Medvedev made this decision, he proceeded from the mood of a significant part of our citizens, who said that moving the clock hands had a bad effect on health. But it turned out that there were even more people dissatisfied with this decision than those who called for changes. Government agencies are currently monitoring and a decision will be made. There are problems associated with the upcoming major competitions. When the time difference with other countries is large, the competition has already begun, and a significant part of the potential spectators are still at work. They point this out to us.

About the president's daughters

NTV: How do your daughters live? Where do they live, what’s wrong with them?

V.P.: Everything is fine, the children are in Moscow, they are studying, and partly working. They are doing well both in their personal lives and in terms of professional growth. I'm proud of them.

On the deoffshorization of the Russian economy

Bloomberg: You spoke about deoffshorization of the economy in your address to the Federal Assembly. How do you want to achieve this? For example, the Rosneft transaction and BP TNC are an offshore transaction. Will this money return to Russia? And how do you plan to return offshore funds to Russia at all?

V.P.: We need to achieve deofshorization with civilized methods, you need to seek signing the relevant agreements with offshore zones, disclose information about the final beneficiaries, this is quite civilized, there is nothing terrible here. This is a legal action. Will the money returned by Rosneft to private shareholders of TNC? We cannot say that. I would very much like a significant part of the funds to return to the Russian economy.

About Alexey Kudrin

Moscow Komsomolets: You did not hide before that Alexey Kudrin was a source of alternative opinion for you. When you said yes, he said no. And who has become so for you now?

V.P.: Mr. Kudrin has not disappeared anywhere, I have not moved anywhere to permanent residence, I met him regularly. I listen to his opinion, it seems important to me, Alexei Leonidovich is a good expert. But the difference between experts and people who make a decision is that experts do not bear political responsibility for decisions. But the opinion of experts is important to know in order to make a balanced decision. Are there any plans to return Kudrin to the team? A team is a conditional name.

About Russian-Georgian relations

Rustavi-2: You have repeatedly said that relations between our countries will depend on the elections. And one of the first steps of Mr. Ivanishvili was the appointment of the first representative of Georgia. How do you see further relations between Georgia and Russia?

V.P.: We see a positive signal from the new Georgian authorities. Mikhail Saakashvili brought the situation to a dead end. We really want to normalize relations with Georgia. But I must say directly, Georgia is more interested in this. But we are not going to bully our nose.

V.P.: Georgian goods should appear in Russian markets if the principles of the WTO are required.

Life News: There are so many jokes about you. The latter, for example, concerns the end of the world: "Putin knows so much about the end of the world and therefore promises so much."

V.P. (interrupted): I know when the end of the world comes. After 4.5 billion years.

Life News: And the French are afraid of the end of the world and even flee the country - Depardieu, they say, has actually received a passport from you.

V.P.: We have a very good relationship with France, and we value them, so no solutions in this area will affect Russian-French relations. I am sure that the highest officials of France did not want to offend Gerard Depardieu. Actors, musicians are people of a subtle mental organization. I have a good friendly relationship with him, I know that he loves France, I hope that the problem will be resolved. But if Gerard wants to get a residence permit in Russia, we will assume that this issue has been resolved positively.

About slavery in galleys

Komsomolskaya Pravda: Boris Yeltsin once said that he is the President of Russia number one. You, it turns out, number two and number four? How has Vladimir Putin have changed over the years? How does Vladimir Putin number four differ from Vladimir Putin number two? You will be like a slave on galleys?

V. P. Almost the whole week is going on something like this, I am used to it. Regarding changes: everything flows, everything changes. There are changes, they are associated with an increase in life experience, work as a prime minister has positively affected me during a hard acute crisis. I had to take responsibility.

About the Khimkinsky forest

"Echo of Moscow": And what about the construction of the Moscow -Petersburg road?

V.P.: The construction of the Moscow -Petersburg road was postponed. Foreign partners said they were waiting for several weeks and leave the project. For us, the loss of partners was dangerous, it could simply lead to a folding of the project. Therefore, when we resolve the issues of ecology, we must always correlate this with state interests, with the development of infrastructure. I am not against eco -defenders, but this must be done in a civilized manner.

Daria Trosnikova, Natalya Romashkova

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Vladimir Putin: “Are you a sadomasochist, or what?”