In his longest annual televised Q&A session, which lasted almost 4 hours 30 minutes, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tackled issues ranging from state-sponsored assassinations to the fate of jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankIn his longest annual televised Q&A session, which lasted almost 4 hours 30 minutes, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tackled issues ranging from state-sponsored assassinations to the fate of jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
In his longest annual televised Q&A session, which lasted almost 4 hours 30 minutes, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tackled issues ranging from state-sponsored assassinations to the fate of jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankIn a vintage performance, the former president and onetime KGB officer broke last year's record by 24 minutes, speaking for a total of four hours and 26 minutes. He fielded 90 questions, 31 of which he had selected himself.
In a vintage performance, the former president and onetime KGB officer broke last year's record by 24 minutes, speaking for a total of four hours and 26 minutes. He fielded 90 questions, 31 of which he had selected himself.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankMost of the questions concerned social-economic issues, along with elimination of the consequences of the wildfires that hit a number of Russian regions this summer.
Most of the questions concerned social-economic issues, along with elimination of the consequences of the wildfires that hit a number of Russian regions this summer.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankDuring the Q&A session, Putin confessed he cannot play piano.
During the Q&A session, Putin confessed he cannot play piano.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankLast Friday, Putin joined world famous actors and entertainers in St. Petersburg at a charity event for children diagnosed with cancer. He played the Russian song From Where Does the Motherland Begin on the piano.
Last Friday, Putin joined world famous actors and entertainers in St. Petersburg at a charity event for children diagnosed with cancer. He played the Russian song From Where Does the Motherland Begin on the piano.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankThe prime minister said he learned from a friend which keys to press, but he does not know how to play the piano properly.
The prime minister said he learned from a friend which keys to press, but he does not know how to play the piano properly.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankThe prime minister often gets animal presents. During a November visit to Sofia, Putin got a new puppy from his Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borisov. A 5-year-old boy from Moscow won a competition to name the dog, choosing Buffy. Putin said he loves Buffy very much.
The prime minister often gets animal presents. During a November visit to Sofia, Putin got a new puppy from his Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borisov. A 5-year-old boy from Moscow won a competition to name the dog, choosing Buffy. Putin said he loves Buffy very much.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankOn a personal note, Putin unveiled the secret of his good fortune. "One should work [hard], and first of all work with people, show respect for them and prove competence and do it persistently, but tactfully," the premier said.
On a personal note, Putin unveiled the secret of his good fortune. "One should work [hard], and first of all work with people, show respect for them and prove competence and do it persistently, but tactfully," the premier said.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankPutin said that Russians have nothing to fear, even at night, as he and President Dmitry Medvedev “sleep in turns.” “Everything is under control, have no doubt,” Putin said.
Putin said that Russians have nothing to fear, even at night, as he and President Dmitry Medvedev “sleep in turns.” “Everything is under control, have no doubt,” Putin said.