Russian President Vladimir Putin Holds His Annual News Conference

Putin Defends Own Record, Criticizes US in Marathon Q&A. © RIA Novosti. Alexei Nikolski

Putin Defends Own Record, Criticizes US In Marathon Q&A -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, December 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected allegations Thursday that he had constructed an “authoritarian regime” during his years in power, touting the country’s stability and adding that he had not made any major mistakes he would want to fix.

“I cannot call this system authoritarian,” he told over 1,000 Russian and foreign journalists in a wide-ranging, four-and-a-half-hour news conference in Moscow, which included heated criticism of the United States and comments on topics ranging from the crisis in Syria to the end of the world.

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More News On Russian President Putin's Annual Press Conference

Vladimir Putin holds a marathon news conference -- Washington post
Packed house for Vladimir Putin’s one-man show – and it runs and runs -- The Independent
Putin, vigorous despite recent back trouble, defends himself in annual news conference -- Washington Post/AP
Russia Acknowledges That Syrian Leader May Fall -- AP
Putin 'not that preoccupied' with fate of Syria's Assad -- The Guardian
Russia's Putin warns of endless conflict in Syria -- Reuters
Putin Defends Position on Syria and Chastises U.S. on Libya -- New York Times
Ban on US adoptions is ‘adequate reaction’ - Putin -- RT
Putin on Magnitsky Act: Why do those behind Guantanamo lecture us on human rights? -- RT
Putin offers alternative to Mayan prophecy for date of apocalypse -- The Guardian

My Comment: I watched the press conference .... and it went on ... and on .... and on .... and on. Rumors of Putin having health problems have clearly been dispelled after this press conference.

Health Problems For Russian President Putin?

Russian President Vladimir Putin sits in a motorised deltaplane near a crane at Yamalo-Nenets district. Putin, who has tracked a Siberian tiger and posed with a polar bear, took his love of wildlife to new heights by flying with cranes, to lead them on a migration route. Photo: REUTERS/Alexsey Druginyn/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

Vladimir Putin's Health Subject Of Speculation In Russia -- The Telegraph

Speculation is growing over the health of President Vladimir Putin after he cancelled a series of engagements and his spokesman admitted he had an injury.

The respected Vedomosti newspaper cited two Kremlin-linked sources on Thursday who said the Russian leader had exacerbated an old back problem when he flew a motorised hang glider in September to guide a flock of Siberian Cranes toward their winter migration grounds.

It was announced this week that Mr Putin would not do his annual call-in show on television, usually held in early December.

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More News On Health Concerns For Russian President Putin

Putin 'grounded' by cranes as he suffers from injury during hang glider trip with flock of birds -- Daily Mail
Kremlin Denies That Injury, Reportedly From a Bird Stunt, Has Grounded Putin -- ABC News
Russian President Putin's work 'not affected' by injury -- BBC
Russia's stay-at-home Putin sparks health rumours -- Straits Times
Speculation Swirls Over Putin's Health After Flight With Cranes -- The Moscow Times
Vladimir Putin's limp sparks health rumours -- The Guardian
Spokesman Says Old Sports Injury Not Hampering Russian President's Work -- Radio Free Europe
Spokesman denies media speculation over Putin’s health problems -- RT

Health Problems For Russian President Putin?

Vladimir Putin inauguration 7 May 2012. Wikipedia

Ex-Soviet Summit Postponed Amid Worries Over Putin's Health -- Reuters

(Reuters) - A summit of leaders of ex-Soviet states scheduled for the start of November has been postponed, an official said on Friday, amid talk that Russian President Vladimir Putin is suffering from back trouble.

The Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose group created as the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, said earlier this month the summit was due to take place in Turkmenistan on November 2.

"The (new) dates are being confirmed. They are being agreed with all the presidents," said CIS spokeswoman Vera Yakubovskaya. She declined to give any reason for the postponement.

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My Comment: Russian bloggers have been talking about Putin's health for the past few days .... it appears to be more serious than what is being reported. What's my take .... I was surprised to hear about these reports. He has always projected an image of strength and perfect health, I never thought of anything else. But if he does become seriously sick and unable to function as President, this will be a major shock to the Russian political establishment. While Prime Minister Medvedev will probably step in, it will open Russia's poltiical system to other parties and other potential new Presidential candidates.

Health Problems For Russian President Putin?

Vladimir Putin inauguration 7 May 2012. Wikipedia

Ex-Soviet Summit Postponed Amid Worries Over Putin's Health -- Reuters

(Reuters) - A summit of leaders of ex-Soviet states scheduled for the start of November has been postponed, an official said on Friday, amid talk that Russian President Vladimir Putin is suffering from back trouble.

The Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose group created as the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, said earlier this month the summit was due to take place in Turkmenistan on November 2.

"The (new) dates are being confirmed. They are being agreed with all the presidents," said CIS spokeswoman Vera Yakubovskaya. She declined to give any reason for the postponement.

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My Comment: Russian bloggers have been talking about Putin's health for the past few days .... it appears to be more serious than what is being reported. What's my take .... I was surprised to hear about these reports. He has always projected an image of strength and perfect health, I never thought of anything else. But if he does become seriously sick and unable to function as President, this will be a major shock to the Russian political establishment. While Prime Minister Medvedev will probably step in, it will open Russia's poltiical system to other parties and other potential new Presidential candidates.

Health Problems For Russian President Putin?

Vladimir Putin inauguration 7 May 2012. Wikipedia

Ex-Soviet Summit Postponed Amid Worries Over Putin's Health -- Reuters

(Reuters) - A summit of leaders of ex-Soviet states scheduled for the start of November has been postponed, an official said on Friday, amid talk that Russian President Vladimir Putin is suffering from back trouble.

The Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose group created as the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, said earlier this month the summit was due to take place in Turkmenistan on November 2.

"The (new) dates are being confirmed. They are being agreed with all the presidents," said CIS spokeswoman Vera Yakubovskaya. She declined to give any reason for the postponement.

Read more ....

My Comment: Russian bloggers have been talking about Putin's health for the past few days .... it appears to be more serious than what is being reported. What's my take .... I was surprised to hear about these reports. He has always projected an image of strength and perfect health, I never thought of anything else. But if he does become seriously sick and unable to function as President, this will be a major shock to the Russian political establishment. While Prime Minister Medvedev will probably step in, it will open Russia's poltiical system to other parties and other potential new Presidential candidates.

Russian President Putin: Romney? At Least He’s Direct.

Vladimir Putin. © RIA Novosti. Aleksey Nikolskiy

Romney? At Least He’s Direct, Says Putin -- Washington Post

MOSCOW — Soviet leaders used to prefer Republicans to Democrats, in the belief that Republicans were tough but more sincere and, once they made a promise, were more likely to deliver on it.

There has been a whiff of that old way of thinking in recent remarks by President Vladimir Putin, even though plenty has changed in Russia’s relations with the United States. Speaking to reporters last week, Putin said he appreciated Mitt Romney’s bluntness in his denunciations of Russia — because that stance lets Russia know where it stands, and reinforces Putin’s opposition to a missile defense shield in Europe.

Sarcastic? Maybe just a bit.

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My Comment: From Putin .... these remarks are nothing new. He has remarked in the past that he believes that President Obama is genuine and Romney is mistaken .... while also stating that he can work with Romney. What's my take .... it will make no difference on who is in the White House when it comes to U.S. Russian relations. Russia is focused on the economy, internal political unrest, and a growing Islamic insurgency in the Caucasus and other Russian provinces. The U.S. has a debt and spending crisis that needs to be address , and when addressed will limit U.S. foreign policies and actions .... including on what they can do with Russia.

Russia's New Tsar

Photo: President Vladimir V. Putin may be wealthy, but the trappings of his office are even richer. Pool photo by Sergei Karpukhin

Vladimir Putin: The Russian President’s 'Life Of Four Yachts And 58 Aircraft’ -- The Telegraph

Vladimir Putin once compared ruling Russia to being a “galley slave”, but four yachts that come with the job, not to mention palaces, aircraft and a wealth of luxury perks help explain his refusal to quit the presidency, leading critics said on Tuesday.

Listing 58 planes and helicopters and 20 homes with opulent fittings worthy of the tsars, not to mention 11 watches which alone are worth several times Putin’s annual salary, a report published under the ironic title “The Life of a Galley Slave” by opposition leader Boris Nemtsov denounced a “blatant and cynical challenge” to millions of Russians barely managing to survive.

The Kremlin, which has long portrayed the 59-year-old president as a man of simple tastes and a liking for popular sports and active outdoor pastimes, did not immediately comment.

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Update #1: "Galley slave" Putin savours yachts, planes, palaces, critics say -- Reuters
Update #2: For Putin, Report Says, State Perks Pile High -- New York Times

My Comment: What can I say .... but life for some is very good.