Russian President Putin's Annual Press Conference (Roundup)

Putin Holds Annual Marathon Press Conference -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, December 19 (RIA Novosti) – More than 1,300 journalists were accredited Wednesday for President Vladimir Putin’s marathon press conference, the ninth such event over the three terms he has served as head of state.

The annual encounters with Russian and international reporters have become a regular part of Putin’s efforts to convey an image of openness to media coverage. Media rights activists regularly complain of poor press freedoms in Russia, a claim that the authorities have endeavored to challenge through a variety of public relations exercises.

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More News On Russian President Putin's Annual Press Conference

RIA Novosti coverage of Russian President Putin's news conference -- RIA Novosti
Vladimir Putin annual press conference: as it happened -- The Telegraph
Ukraine-Style Protests Would Not Be Allowed in Russia – Putin -- RIA Novosti
Putin suggests who could be Russia’s ‘politician # 2’, has nothing to say about successor -- RT
Putin Names Russia's Top Leaders, But Appears to Snub PM -- RIA Novosti
Putin praises U.S. on Iran but says sanctions harmful -- Reuters
Putin Says No Iskanders Deployed in Kaliningrad -- RIA Novosti
Putin: NSA surveillance needed to fight terrorism -- AP
Putin Defends NSA but Calls on U.S. to ‘Limit the Appetite’ for Surveillance -- Mediaite
Putin Calls Snowden ‘Noble,’ Says Never Met Him -- RIA Novosti
Putin Says He Has Never Met Snowden -- Moscow Times
Vladimir Putin on Edward Snowden at press conference – video -- The Guardian
Vladimir Putin calls US spying a necessity, warns that arrest of Arctic 30 should serve as a 'lesson' -- ABC News (Australia)
Putin Alleges Greenpeace Was Paid to Protest Arctic Drilling -- RIA Novosti
Putin Says Greenpeace Group Jailing Should Serve as Lesson -- RIA Novosti
Russia's Putin: Pussy Riot duo to be freed despite 'disgraceful' protest -- NBC
Putin announces pardon for Khodorkovsky, Pussy Riot during annual Q&A -- Deutsche Welle
Putin says will pardon Khodorkovsky -- AFP
Putin says he will pardon Yukos oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky -- Washington Post
Putin says will soon pardon jailed oil tycoon Khodorkovsky -- Reuters
Putin says he plans to pardon jailed tycoon -- CNN
Putin’s marathon Q&A session ends with surprise pardon of jailed oil tycoon -- Globe and Mail

UPDATE: Pussy Riot members freed from prison -- USA Today