Mikhail Khodorkovsky to be pardoned

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12.38 (16.38) A final comment from Roland Oliphant:

A deflating and uninspired performance from Vladimir Putin this year, in which he relied on old lines and shied away from controversy. There were none of the off script fireworks that the Russian leader occasionally likes to throw out, and he revealed nothing new on any state policy.

The glaring omission was the fate of RIA novosti, which he touched on only in passing.

There were reports from RIA immediately after the press conference that Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former Yukos boss who was jailed in 2005, is to be granted pardon, though this was not mentioned during the question and answer session.

For now though, it's do svidaniya from Putin and do svidaniya from us here on the live blog.

12.17 (16.17) No, that really was the end after just over four hours - no records broken here. While Putin was speaking there was news from the Moscow courts that four people arrested for taking part in the Bolotnaya square protests last year have been granted amnesty.

<noframe>Twitter: Nataliya Vasilyeva - Reports from a Moscow courthouse where 4 Bolotnaya trail defendants were amnestied, 2 of them released from prison.</noframe>

Also a comment on the range of subjects Putin didn't have time for in this marathon press conference:

<noframe>Twitter: Nataliya Vasilyeva - it's been 3hrs40min and not a single question about high-level corruption, persecution of gay people, mammoth uncontrolled spending in Sochi</noframe>

12.11 (16.11) Putin says he's only got time for one more question (though we've been here before). The chosen journalist manages to slip in two: one about the offshore activites of Russian companies and the other on the law which bans Americans from adopting Russian children.

12.07 (16.07) Roland Oliphant responds to Putin's claim that Stalin is no different from Cromwell:

A few raised eyebrows between British journalists is as far as reaction to that Cromwell line went. Water off a duck's back for most here.

<noframe>Twitter: Roland Oliphant - Apart from Cromwell, I'm not sure Putin has said anything remotely off track here. No fireworks today.</noframe>

11.57 (15.57) Putin laments the collapse of the Soviet Union, reiterating previous comments that it was a "tragedy of the 20th century". He appears to be rolling out the red carpet for citizens in countries that used to make up the Soviet Union.

11.53 (15.53) He is asked which Soviet leader would he like to reconstruct in the form of a statue. How is Oliver Cromwell different to Joseph Stalin he asks? "There is no difference".

"Cromwell is just as much of a bloody dictator as was Stalin". There is a monument to Cromwell in England he points out and no one seeks to knock it down.

<noframe>Twitter: Shaun Walker - Oh and here is the quote of the day from Putin: How does Cromwell differ from Stalin? Not at all!! And there are monuments to Cromwell...</noframe>

11.50 (15.50) Ivor Crotty, editor at Russia Today, points out that nobody has asked about Putin's recent decision to close RIA Novosti, the national news agency (of which Russia Today is part)

<noframe>Twitter: IvorCrotty - is there anyone in that room full of journalists who might ask a question about <a href="http://www.twitter.com/rianru" target="_blank">@rianru</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=hash&q=%23Ð" target="_blank">#Ð</a>&Yuml;ÑÑ&sbquo;Ð¸Ð½ÐÑ&sbquo;Ð²ÐµÑ&Dagger;Ð°ÐµÑ&sbquo;</noframe>

11.47 (15.47) He says anyone in a position of power should never avoid responsibility. If you have an official who tries to evade responsibility, "everything will fall apart."

"You must never act arbitrarily," he adds, saying you should listen to people.

If there are conflicting opinions, you must have the courage to make a choice and accept responsibility for the eventual decision.

People who find themselves in "high seats of power", "You have to remember that cannot separate yourself from your people... day and night you have to think about how to avoid those issues."

11.45 (15.45) Putin says they have a treaty with Ukraine that allows the navy to be present in the region. He says Russia is concerned about their citizens.

He says Russia won't go to war or "break into countries and impose our will".

He does say one more question as he points out that the press conference has exceeded three hours by "quite some margin".

11.40 (15.40) I spoke too soon. He's accepting more, this time from the LA Times, who harks back to the South Ossetia conflict from 2008.

He asks if Russia will move to protect the interests of Russian citizens in the Crimea.

Is it possible to deploy Russian troops to Ukraine, he asks, and under what circumstances?

Putin says he doesn't think the South Ossetia situation is comparable to the Crimea. There is nothing comparable he says.

11.36 (15.36) Putin has accepted his last question. It's on the economy of the Mordovia region, which isn't exactly an incredibly exciting way to finish.

11.29 (15.29) And back to Putin:

<noframe>Twitter: Roland Oliphant - Careful words on middle east, emphasises support for both Israel and Iran, backs Iran right to nuclear, opposes sanctions. No change then</noframe>

11.27 (15.27) A quick break from the press hall in Moscow for an update on the situation in Kiev. President Viktor Yanukovych has told other countries to stay out of Ukraine's affairs following recent protests over the country's relationship with Russia and the EU, according to this report from AFP:

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych told Western powers on Thursday to stay out of his country's political crisis, after senior EU and US officials met leaders of anti-government protests in Kiev.

"What is very important is that this is our internal matter, and that other countries do not intervene in our internal affairs. ... I am categorically against others coming to our country and teaching us how to live," Yanukovych said in an interview with Ukrainian television channels.

11.23 (15.23) Roland Oliphant thinks a couple of questions on international relations - about China and Iran - may be a sign Putin is preparing to end the conference. Last year's was four and a half hours, and we're just over three here.

To everyone's relief Putin jokes that he won't go for the record this year. Journalists frantically wave flags, paper signs, football scarves to get his attention before he winds up.

Later responds to a rambling tale about criminality and land fraud: "you've completely lost me." More laughter from the hall.

He is currently taking some international questions from journalists from China and Iran. Possible this is him winding up.

11.18 (15.18) A question about riot police alleged to have beaten up a female protester.

<noframe>Twitter: The Moscow News - Putin tells Katya Vinokurova that OMON couldn't possibly beat up a woman for no reason. "They're healthy guys. Why would they do that?"</noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: The Moscow News - Putin says it's not possible for a riot police officer to beat a woman. Not in this universe, nope. Never happened.</noframe>

11.12 (15.12) The regional journalist is still talking, now about her friend in prison. Putin seems to be humouring her but says her life seems "a bit like a soap opera". Behind her, another reporter forlornly waves a Ukrainian flag in a bid to get the President's attention.

11.08 (15.08) A flurry of excitement in the hall as Putin notes the conference has been going on for three hours now and suggests wrapping it up soon, "otherwise we won't have time for Christmas". Journalists are asked to keep their questions short, but it appears this has fallen on deaf ears: the next question lasts a good couple of minutes and is another personal petition, this time about a reporter whose house was burned down.

<noframe>Twitter: Roland Oliphant - personal petition time continues. Next up an impassioned tale of criminality and land fraud.</noframe>

11.04 (15.04) Another dispatch from our man Roland Oliphant in the press hall:

Things got serious for a few seconds as Reuters challenged him on Pussy Riot, but returned to farce when the next questioner petitioned him to push a fire safety reform he has been lobbying other ministers for without success.

Effectively another personal petition: editor of a paper from Khabarovsk region is asking a rambling question about conflicts in the law enforcement agencies, corruption, pressure on her paper, and jobs in the Far East. She attacks interior minister and investigative committee security service chiefs by name, to great applause from the hall. She has struck a chord, and Putin knows it.

10.54 (14.54) The tactics for asking questions are quite novel. Reporters are holding up big pieces of paper to get Putin's attention, while others use teddy bears and one even a stuffed yeti toy.

10.45 (14.45) On Pussy Riot, Putin says he feels "pity" for them, not because they are in prison, but because they "started to engage in activities which are humiliating for women".

It's just a PR campaign but they crossed a line... The court decided to punish them, not for that, but for other actions...

The amnesty has nothing to do with Greenpeace or this band...

We need to humanise, to make our criminal code more humane to mark the 20 year anniversary of the constitution.

10.40 (14.40) Alexander Lebvedev, part-owner of the liberal opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta which has had repeated run-ins with the Putin regime, comments on the president's flirtatious conversation with a reporter:

"A journalist from Sobesednik thanks the president as she tells him she recently got married. His relationship with Novaya Gazeta isn't quite as good..."

10.38 (14.38) Roland Oliphant writes from the press hall:

Attention wandering and everyone looking for reasons to laugh. Putin has been buttonholed by a forthright middle aged blonde who harangues him on everything from cancer rates to the end of the Russian empire, to laughter.

She is haranguing him on oligarchs and the national wealth "If you nationalised everything everyone will love you." Applause. She was definitely the most formidable person in this hall so far.

10.36 (14.36) A Chechen journalist implores Putin to ask the oligarchs that he knows to give them 20m roubles to Vladivostock. Putin is clearly getting irked when she asks her third question. "Who's running this press conference?", he asks.

Other reporters look like they are struggling to suppress laugher.

Even though she claims to have asked three questions, I can't think what they were.

10.24 (14.24) He's shifted now to talking about print and digital media. He says Russia has taken some steps to decrease some taxes for the print media.

He says they have cut the subsidies for state-run media in 2014. He says "we are not enthusiastic about these cuts, but we have to do it."

The reporter who asked the question is gushing over him when he congratulates her on her recent marriage, and then he agrees to an interview.

<noframe>Twitter: Roland Oliphant - With flirting. Putin is officially single now after all.</noframe>

10.14 (14.14) It should be pointed out that Putin has repeatedly avoided saying Navalny's name. He just keeps referring to him as a "candidate".

10.12 (14.12) On the Moscow mayoral election, the reporter asks Putin if Alexei Navalny could be part of the election. He asks if Navalny could be a "danger".

If he was a "danger", Navalny wouldn't be allowed to take part in the election, Putin.

I think it's fine when the mayor of the biggest city in Russia consults the president.

If any candidate has a real chance to take part in the mayoral election, you should take part. People who are not well known at the municipal/regional level will find it difficult to pass that filter.

10.04 (14.04)

<noframe>Twitter: Roland Oliphant - Ukraine again. "Have you actually read that association deal? No one reads anything these days"</noframe>

09.59 (13.59) Russia will cooperate with Ukraine in the future, whoever wins the political battle there.

09.55 (13.55) He's back on Ukraine. He insists that Russia is not dragging Ukraine anywhere, but if Kiev does sign the EU deal, then Russian won't be able to give them any more benefits.

<noframe>Twitter: Roland Oliphant - Eu deal would turn Ukraine into an "agricultural appendage" of Europe. But we're not telling them to do anything. It's their choice</noframe>

09.52 (13.52) Putin on the Syrian chemical weapons deal now. He says Russia can be "proud of our principled stance" regarding the situation. but he credits the West on the deal.

<noframe>Twitter: Roland Oliphant - "But it's all team work. High five to Americans and Europeans on the chemical weapons deal. Hooray cooperation woo."</noframe>

09.47 (13.47) Roland Oliphant comments on Putin's Greenpeace statement.

On Greenpeace, Putin was unforgivingly critical, describing their action as "pure pr" and hinting they were in it purely for personal enrichment under the guise of environmentalism. And tellingly, he twice claimed someone "commissioned" them to do it with he aim of halting Russia's development of the continental shelf. Still, he hopes the experience "taught them a lesson" and that they can work with Russian govt "more constructively in future".

Activists disguised as polar bears during a protest against Gazprom in Geneva.

09.45 (13.45) Russia Today has captured this clip of Putin, when talking about Edward Snowden, saying he envies Barack Obama because he can spy and get away with it.

09.40 (13.40) A question from a journalist from a regional paper about Cossacks are treated in Russian public life. A slightly bizarre answer from Putin in which he claims Cossacks can be more effective than police in ensuring the rule of law

<noframe>Twitter: Roland Oliphant - "Cossacks are often more efficient than law enforcement agencies..." Yes, you heard that right</noframe>

09.34 (13.34)

<noframe>Twitter: The Moscow News - Putin is in his classic. "I am going to patiently explain everything with crayons for you" mode.</noframe>

09.29 (13.29) The first question about the recent arrest of Greenpeace activists protesting Russia's activities in the Arctic. Putin says Russia is not going to soften its line on the continental shelf - it's only going to get tougher.

I have a very positive attitude to anyone who is protecting the environment but it's inadmissable when people are using it as a means of promoting themselves, using it as a source of self-enrichment. I don't want to name any specific examples...but often environmentalism is used to blackmail companies

09.21 (13.21) More from our man in Moscow Roland Oliphant:

Putin denies he met Snowden. "I've got my job, he's got his stuff to do... Nonetheless he is an interesting person for me. Lots of people including leading politicians and my colleagues changed their world view thanks to him."

Almost word perfect repetition of what he said last time he was asked about this.

09.14 (13.14) Nikolai Alexeyev, the gay rights activist, comments on Putin's statement about "traditional Russian values". Referring to the new law outlawing 'gay propaganda', he writes on Twitter: "But what are 'traditional Russian values'? Putin didn't explain. So nobody's any the wiser as to what 'homosexual propaganda' means either."

Но что такое "традиционные российские ценности" Путин так и не объяснил. Как никому так и не ясно, что такое гомосексуальная пропаганда... — Nikolai Alexeyev (@n_alexeyev) December 19, 2013

09.06 (13.06) Putin is asked whether he has ever met Edward Snowden. He says no, but he praises the whistleblower's resolve, saying he has caused many people to change their world view. Says Snowden has made a "noble but complicated choice". There is the assumption that he will not continue any "anti-American propaganda" as long as he lives in Russia. The government is not working with Snowden, Putin says.

09.02 (13.02) CNN asks why religion appears to have become so important in Russian public life. Putin says solid values are needed to fill the hole left by the collapse of the Communist regime.

<noframe>Twitter: Roland Oliphant - Predictably "I don't criticise western values...just defend ours." Without these values society degrades...</noframe>

<noframe>Twitter: The Moscow News - Putin says he wants to protect Russians from "quasi-values." That explains everything!</noframe>

08.59 (12.59) Some analysis from Roland Oliphant, our correspondent in Moscow:

Putin has referred to Medvedev in the same breath as plastic politicians such as Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Gennady Zyuganov. He cannot bring himself to mention Navalny [the opposition activist who was recently tried for fraud and has been described as 'the man Putin fears most'] by name, however.

Without mentioning Navalny by name, Putin appears to question the size of the opposition leader's manhood. Putin says of getting into politics: "You can loose your trousers. It's good if you have something to show, and if you have nothing..."

08.49 (12.49) A reporter from Komsomolskaya Pravda asks who the second most important politician in Russia is, and whether Putin has a successor. Putin talks about Gennady Zuganov, the leader of the Communist Party. Dimitry Medvedev, the Prime Minister and former President, gets only a brief mention.

08.44 (12.44) The first question from a regional paper. A journalist from the far east of Russia asks about recent flooding which has hit the region and plans for new hydropower projects to meet the area's energy needs. Putin says the recent flood was a natural disaster - not, as the journalist suggested, the result of a fault with a dam - and says green energy projects in the region will be backed with tax cuts.

08.38 (12.38) Question from the tabloid Argumenty i Fakty on a recent pay rise for Russian MPs. Putin says we need to employ "the cream of the crop, the best people" and lure them in from the business sector where salaries are higher.

08.34 (12.34) A tweet from Alexander Lebvedev, oligarch and owner of the Independent and London Evening Standard. He says: "The 18 billion dollars of aid to Ukraine, translated: "It's a massive boost to our own economy to the detriment of the EU"

По поводу помощи Украине на 18 млрд.долл. понял разъяснение:она даст огромную пользу нашей экономике.А ассоциация"братьев"с ЕС-нанесет ущерб — Alexander Lebedev (@lebedevalex) December 19, 2013

08.30 (12.30) He says Ukraine is in a difficult situation right now (regarding the political protests happening). He says the flow of industrial goods goes back to the days of the USSR, and both economies will benefit from it.

Ukraine should make up their mind which options they should pursue, he says.

He adds that the $15bn is not a "spending spree" on Russia's part.

08.25 (12.25) He warns that if Ukraine went towards the EU rather than Russia, it would have become an "agricultural annex".

<noframe>Twitter: Roland Oliphant - "We are not agains eu association, we just want to protect our economy." Etc etc</noframe>

08.21 (12.21) "Make a little effort and you'll see the clear picture", says Putin. He says Russia is not against integration with the EU, but he says most of Ukraine's exports go to Russia. There are so many checks and balances in the EU.

Try and explain that [farmers] need to limit their production for the sake of Ukraine.

He says the decision was taken for the "sake of the Ukrainian people".

08.18 (12.18) The question is on Ukraine. The journalist asks Putin about gas prices and the $15bn deal they cut earlier this week.

He says that Russia worked closely with the previous government under Yulia Tymoshenko and that the gas contract is economically justified. Pricing formula is exactly the same as what they have with all users in Europe.

"No one is trying to suffocate anyone", he says. "If you want independence, there's a price to pay."

08.10 (12.10) And he's up and running. You can follow our Moscow correspondent, Roland Oliphant, on Twitter at @RolandOliphant. Roland writes:

Vladimir Putin annual press conference: live

Putin enters to absurd games how music, launches straight into a list of stats on the past year's economic performance.

8.05 (12.05) The press conference appears a few minutes late, but if you're a Putin-watcher, then the Moscow News has some (depressing) statistics for you.

<noframe>Twitter: The Moscow News - Basically each Putin presser is longer than the previous. Word is, he plans to beat last year's record of 4hrs. &amp; 45min</noframe>

8.00 (12.00) Roland Oliphant, our Moscow correspondent, is in attendance this morning.

While I am in here, there is a good chance that the Pussy Riot girls Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (

) may be released from prison. Pyotr Verzilov is already in Krasnoyarsk, where his wife Nadezhka is in prison hospital.

7.55 (11.55) The New Times, a liberal, Soviet-era magazine, has invited its readers to suggest questions they would ask Putin. Topics range from gay rights to political prisoners and the Sochi Olympics.

One reader was keen to know about the President's attitude to the country's Soviet past, asking: "Why do we still keep Lenin's body in the centre of Moscow? If the 1917 revolution was such a terrible thing - seeing as we've cancelled the national day to mark the anniversary of this revolution - then why do we keep the body of its instigator on Red Square?"

Another of the 25 questions selected for publication in the magazine was more personal. "Why are you always so late? Last month you were even 50 minutes late for a meeting with the Pope. What's so urgent that you have to keep popes, kings, prime ministers and just ordinary people waiting? What point are you trying to make?"

7.50 (11.50) Dmitri Peskov, Putin's press secretary, says we shouldn't expect any big policy announcements.

The press conference format isn't for announcing big decisions... So I wouldn't get tied up expecting scandal. What's discussed will depend on the questions the President is asked. Obviously there will be lots of questions about Ukraine and other international affairs, for example Syria. Obviously there will be questions about the domestic economic situation and the banks. It's all on the agenda.