Thread by @MollyMcKew

Putin's annual press conference today! It's like early Christmas (only everyone gets coal). Some highlights:

Asked about the absence of a serious political challenger/number 2, Putin says it isn't his job to cultivate opponents to himself /1

He then adds pointless statistics, and describes the time before he took over Russia as a civil war. Punchline: Putin fixed it /2

Asked whether his "manual control" (ability to be approached by local people with personal issues that a president is not really supposed to help address), Putin says it is positive that the people know there is this "direct communication" /3

Asked about the discrepancy in govt reports on economic growth vs real life, Putin starts to talk about the record harvest (even better than in the USSR -- you can't make this sh!t up)

Record harvest! Sheesh. /4

He then sprinkles in unrelated statistics about investment that don't answer the question. The overall tone: these problems you are talking about are actually the media hyping things up. /5

In response to another question, Putin admits there is "racketeering" by law enforcement /6

Putin says Russia is not going to withdraw from any international treaties (on disarmament in particular). Nor will it join the arms race, he says.

This ignores that they are already violating several treaties and have in fact been driving an arms race /7

Interesting: Asked about how decision to ban Russia from the Olympics impacts upcoming Russian presidential elections, Putin is absolutely positive about it.

Guess that means core campaign these remains Russia apart from the world/under attack, Putin must restore pride etc /8

Question from foreign press on Trump: Putin answers that Trump has achievements but can't do what he wants because of "the system"

This has been Putin's line all year -- yes, so much better to have a system where one man -- like Putin!! -- gets to make all decisions, duh /9

"Election interference" was made-up story by "opposition" to delegitimize Trump, Putin says. All meetings w/campaign were "standard practice." "The opposition" is disrespecting the American people.

Putin answers this w/ visible disinterest, bored beyond belief. Next! /10

Oh FFS the next question is LITERALLY about crops in Siberia.

Record harvest, again!

here, Putin, I got the answer to this one:

(That's "Attack the enemy with the Bolshevik harvest" -- a WWII call to action) /12

Putin says the West is insane to equate Russia, Iran, and North Korea (re sanctions) and then to demand Russia help w/ NK. US "provoked" NK to withdraw from 2005 nuclear deal. If US is "reasonable" Russia may help. /13

Putin makes a joke about question from Ukrainian journalist, about Bashkortostan -- in his mind, Ukraine and "Bashkiria" are close (geographically) & Ukraine must be "mentally not far" Bashkortostan bc journo speaks perfect Russian.
Language imperialism, so funny! /14

The hall applauds at Putin's joke. Eat that Ukraine! Patriotic harvest!

Putin goes on to US is party to Ukraine settlement, despite not being a party to Normandy / Minsk (aka don't blame us) /15

Putin says Russia doesn't have troops in Ukraine but there are local armed forces capable of repelling any offensive. If they hadn't been there, Ukraine would have turned Donbas into Srebrenica. *yawn* /16

If it were true random rebels could arm themselves from the shop enough to beat Russian army, Putin would be more worried. The only funny thing is he continues this denial. /17

Putin goes on -- far more interested in Ukraine than Trump -- equating Russia to 'Rus', insists Russia and Ukraine are one nation and that Russian people think of Ukraine as Russia /18

Loud applause in hall follows eveey statement on Ukraine

Putin: I suppose that if people want to be independent, it is their right. however, it goes counter global trend where nations unite (what??) /19

crops, harvest, agriculture trade again... Is Russia in the middle of a famine or something? /20

Here's more on that Ukraine war question /21

rferl.org/a/putin-annual…

Putin to Polish journalist (re Smolensk): grow up and man up

Or something /22

Putin says it was his initiative to send military police from North Caucasus to Syria because the locals would trust Sunnis.

.... This is interesting since exact same true of the guys sent to join ISIS /23

Oh wow Ksenia Sobchak, faux challenger to Putin in elex came to presser -- as a journalist! What a fun circus this will be

Putin compares Russian opposition figures to "Saakashvilis" -- obvi not a compliment in that room. Like clowns. /24

Wonders where "Occupy Wall Street" is now. Adds Russians won't allow "Ukraine v2" in Russia because that is the only option the opposition has to offer.

So basically: resistance is futile,
Or chaos /25