Russia Policies: Pres. Putin claims West uses double standards

World
Europe

02:12

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has accused the West of maintaining double standards in its dealings with his country. This was among the many topics covered in his extensive end-of-the-year media event. CGTN's Julia Chapman has more from Moscow.

It's President Vladimir Putin's favourite way of dealing with the media. All at once, over a period of nearly four hours. Addressing everything from Syria to doping, to Brexit, the Russian president reflected on the year gone by.

VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "I think the Russian-British relationship is in a deadlock and it is in the interest of both countries, both states, to get out of this deadlock. What impact will Brexit have on us? I think it will be minimal, but it will have an impact on the European economy, on the world economy."

Economic issues were a common theme. Not least among them, this year's widely unpopular domestic reform -- raising the pension age.

VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "These thing are unpleasant, and it's clear that they don't bring about any enthusiasm, but they are inevitable. Once again, if I hadn't been convinced that it was necessary, I would never have allowed it to be done."

The president was also pressed on Russia's actions on the world stage. Asked about the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal in the UK, Putin accused the West of double standards, comparing its reaction to that of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "Khashoggi was killed, that's obvious, everyone has acknowledged it. Skripal, thank god, lives. Nevertheless, in relation to Russia, there are sanctions. They're still talking about it endlessly. And in the Khashoggi case - complete silence. It is a politicized Russophobic approach."

The question and answer session continued like this for hours.

JULIA CHAPMAN MOSCOW "This year President Putin answered sixty-one questions from Russian and international journalists. The Kremlin says the annual event is evidence that Russia values media freedom. But critics say it's a game of smoke and mirrors."

At just under four hours, it wasn't Putin's longest press conference. But with five more years of his presidential term, his record could still be broken. Julia Chapman, CGTN, Moscow.