HIGHLIGHTS: Vladimir Putin’s annual news conference - The presidential term results

HIGHLIGHTS: Vladimir Putin's annual news conference - The presidential term results

The President of Russia answered the journalists' questions for the 13th time in the framework of the Annual news conference. The event was traditionally held at WTC Moscow and it was the final meeting with the Media within the current presidential term.

Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov announced the main topic of the meeting prior to its beginning: 'Now, when the current presidential term is coming to an end and when we know that Vladimir Putin will run for the post, there will be a lot of questions about the electoral process and the elections as a whole along with various issues related to the domestic policy'

Just like a year ago, the annual news conference lasted 3 hours and 50 minutes, during which the President answered traditional questions about domestic and foreign policy, his mission in Russia, the upcoming Olympics, the social sphere and much more. As it was expected, one of the first questions was the one of the planned Presidential Election in 2018.

Broadcast of the President Putin's Annual news conference

Vladimir Putin regularly meets with journalists since 2001 with an exception for the period when he held the post of Prime Minister from May 2008 to May 2012. After re-election for a new presidential term in 2012, Putin resumed the practice of holding news conferences.

The shortest one (1 hour and 33 minutes) was the first meeting with journalists in 2001. The record news conference was held in February 2008 and lasted 4 hours and 40 minutes.