The sharpest thing was about the usurpation of power
Vladimir Putin's press conference confirmed MK's forecasts. The key topics of the president's four-hour conversation with journalists were the confrontation with NATO, the war with Ukraine, the coronavirus pandemic, the gas crisis in Europe and socio-economic issues, especially rising prices. Although the Kremlin showed some openness by inviting several foreign media to the press conference, none of them was given a word in the end. The most urgent question was asked by BBC correspondent Pyotr Kozlov, who suspected Putin of usurping power and preparing a base for future wars and revolutions in the Russian Federation.
Photo: Natalia Gubernatorova
As Vladimir Putin entered the hall, he seemed surprised by the great distance between the stage and the ranks of the journalists. “Far away,” he remarked. “But I hope you can hear me well.” And I hope to hear from you, too. “There really was no problem with the sound. But the head of state did not always see not only the faces but also the posters brought by the journalists.” Someone raised a “heart” somewhere. Putin hoped, but after hearing another request (and regional journalists traditionally use a press conference to address the urgent problems of their territories) shrugged in disappointment: “Apparently it's not the 'heart'
The medical mask, in which all participants in the press conference were to sit at Rospotrebnadzor's request, did not allow Vladimir Putin to identify his rival in the 2018 presidential election, Ksenia Sobchak. But the journalist's calculation for the red dress and the largest poster in the hall turned out to be correct. “It says 'FSIN,' give the girl a microphone,” the VVP ordered, and when he heard the familiar last name, he apologized for not confessing, “You can't see you at all.” Ksenia Sobchak asked about the president's “personal emotional stance” on torture in prisons. And also about how state awards are received by those who participate in them. The president did not talk about emotions, but promised that all 17 criminal cases would be completed and the perpetrators punished. As for the remuneration of those responsible for the torture of prisoners, yes, he said, mistakes sometimes occur.
In general, in answering any urgent question – whether it was torture in prisons, the law on foreign agents or rising prices – Putin tried to show that not only Russia is facing similar phenomena. And if it collides, on a much smaller scale than somewhere over the hill. In particular, the domestic law on foreign media agents is, according to him, much more liberal than its American version. “If you don't think that's enough, let's do it as in the United States: we'll impose criminal liability for this activity if the organization doesn't stop its work,” he told BBC correspondent Pyotra Kozlov, who criticized the Russian authorities for an exaggerated and very vague law enforcement practice. Putin stressed: there is no inflection point in Russia – in the United States, 0.034 organizations are recognized as foreign agents. And we, “you can imagine what a surprise”, also 0.034 – the same volume. However, the British journalist personally “struck” the president and indicated that his actions – especially a clear move towards confrontation with the West – had laid the foundations for future shocks. “Every time power in Russia was concentrated in one hand and it was in a phase of acute conflict with the West, it eventually provoked resistance and plunged the country into the abyss of wars and revolutions,” Kozlov recalled. “We have a division of power,” Putin reminded him. “And the choice of organization of society and state will be determined by the Russian people, not by those you serve today.”
However, most of the questions were, to put it mildly, easily predictable. The president did not hear some of them for the first time and he had already rehearsed the answers. Vladimir Putin, for example, spoke of exactly what he had said to NATO, saying what he had said a day ago to a defense college: “NATO's further eastward movement is unacceptable. Is it an exaggerated demand – not to put other shock systems into our house? Sky News journalist asked Vladimir Putin for guarantees of non-aggression against Ukraine and received a reply that she had the wrong address. “It is you who must provide us with guarantees, immediately! Now! And don't talk about it for decades, “Putin hurried to the attack. The President stressed that it is not the course of the negotiations that is important for Russia (although Washington's focus on them is a positive signal), but a concrete and swift result: Moscow's actions will depend on unconditional security of Russia – today and in the long term. However, after long discussions about Donbas, Kiev's aggressive policies, the events of 2014 and their consequences, the President nevertheless formulated the main thing: we do not plan to attack Ukraine, but we do not allow NATO to expand to the east.
Many questions remained in the air after the press conference – Vladimir Putin did not give them a clear answer for one reason or another. Does Russia recognize the Taliban government? “We will try to ensure that the solution is consolidated.” Will the valorisation of pensions, which is still planned for 5.9% in 2022, change, which is much less than inflation? “The government will do its utmost to meet its obligations. So far we are doing well. “When will normal mobile operators who do not go there due to sanctions appear in Crimea?” The West wanted to spit on the Crimeans and decide on its geopolitical issues. This is not mana from heaven – not everything will fall from heaven “etc.” and explained why he would not take Mikhail Mishustin with him into the taiga: “Then who will stay in business?” Faces and gestures of Vladimir Putin's big press conference: images from “Manezh”
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