To begin, even before the press conference started, many commentators, most of them journalists, noticed a rather odd phenomenon — that they themselves were inadvertently (or advertently) 'becoming a part of the story', taking pictures of each other, and commenting on one another's clothes, accessories and behavior.
She wants to get Putin's attention thanks to this doll. Let's wish her luck. #PutinPresser #oF24 pic.twitter.com/gEogH1W5qp
— Julien Pain (@JulienPain) 17 декабря 2015
Journalist Yevgeny is from Khanty-Mansisk. He's brought a drum with him to attract Putin's attention #putinpresser pic.twitter.com/TOdZI9PvNS
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) 17 декабря 2015
#прессконференция pic.twitter.com/7nRbz4eXmc
— ясень.СЕССИЯ (@MartanYasen) 17 декабря 2015
Это самое. Гоните этого мужика оттуда. Это враг России pic.twitter.com/hzQ8mDuz28
— RIP Новости (@riarip) 17 декабря 2015
Sign reads: 'For Prohibition' Comment: "Kick this man out of there. He is an enemy of the state!"
As usual, people take pictures with The Chair #PutinPresser #putin pic.twitter.com/UHvxKcUMse
— Ivan Nechepurenko (@INechepurenko) 17 декабря 2015
I get the feeling the media's becoming part of the story. Lots of journalists taking pictures of other journalists. #Putinpresser
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) 17 декабря 2015
With over 1,400 journalists present at the event, their creative efforts to get noticed shouldn't really be surprising to anyone.
This is how you have to try to get a question. One of these signs says "I'm pregnant". Really. pic.twitter.com/BglhK5xkOF
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) 17 декабря 2015
Putin broke the ice at the event by telling journalists an old joke – one which got lost in translation; it turns out that the joke was actually more like a light-hearted parable about peoples' tendency not to realize it when times are good.
#PutinPresser 'Let us begin by me telling you an old joke' FOLLOW LIVE https://t.co/6qzuta8CLx https://t.co/5NSspLzzjO
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) 17 декабря 2015
Some of the president's more serious answers also got a laugh, among them the suggestion that embattled former FIFA President Sepp Blatter should be given the Nobel Peace Prize.
Vladimir Putin has just said that Sepp Blatter should be given the Nobel Peace Prize. pic.twitter.com/UinvxZHuCv
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) 17 декабря 2015
Full quote from Putin praising Blatter and saying he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize pic.twitter.com/TpY0b5L3Zl
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) 17 декабря 2015
Some users also found hilarious the president's suggestion that the divisive businessman and Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump was "a very bright and talented person," with some going so far as to declare that Putin had 'endorsed' Trump.
Putin endorses Trump for president. https://t.co/nhnP83YNhj #PutinPresser #Dayisdone
— NotThatEngineer (@ValarMorkali) 17 декабря 2015
#PutinPresser getting ever better! First Sepp Blatter deserves Nobel Peace Prize, now Trump is an "outstanding talented man"
— Sumi Somaskanda (@SumangaliS) 17 декабря 2015
Putin basically trolling the whole United States with those Trump comments. He's loving it! #PutinPresser #Trump pic.twitter.com/gI2oCYoVsX
— Seamus Conwell (@SeamusConwell) 17 декабря 2015
The president's choice of words about a third party being involved in Turkey's downing of the Russian Su-24 last month also became an instant hit, getting a laugh and applause, and instantly becoming a meme on the Russian twitterverse.
#Putin: Did someone in #Turkey's gov't want to 'lick US in certain spot'? https://t.co/khVMfaYXPj #Su24 pic.twitter.com/GKhbJqPmti
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) 17 декабря 2015
"I don't know if somebody in the Turkish government decided to lick Americans' particular place." Applause. #PutinPresser
— Anna Shamanska (@_shamanska) 17 декабря 2015
#прессконференция Когда Президент называет вещи своими именами pic.twitter.com/9DCht9XybI
— Максим Кувшинов (@mpkuv) 17 декабря 2015
"The moment when the president calls it like it is."
Нас было двое, нас кто-то сдал! #прессконференция pic.twitter.com/zuK9tl50BA
— Zakusilov (@denzakusilov) 17 декабря 2015
Left panel: "If someone in Turkey decided to lick the Americans in a particular place, I don't know if the Americans need this." Right panel: "Hello, Barack? WTF man? We agreed that no one would find out about this!"
As is often the case at such events, another funny moment ended up being a female journalist's complement on the president's appearance and ability to keep in shape.
OMG. "Vladimir Vladimirovich, as a woman I can't help comment that you look so well and sporty, and you are an example for all our boys"
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) 17 декабря 2015
All in all, some commentators were disappointed by the event's sticking to serious business, suggesting that it was not as fun as last year's press conference, which featured allegories about stuffed bears, marriage proposals and jokes about soft drinks.
I don't know about you but that wasn't one of #Putin's more thrilling press conferences. Over in less than 3hrs 10 mins. #PutinPresser
— Emma Burrows (@EJ_Burrows) 17 декабря 2015
That was the shortest, and dullest, Putin presser I've seen. No stuffed animals! No quasi-marriage proposals! No questions about kvas!
— max seddon (@maxseddon) 17 декабря 2015
Well guys, life can't just be all fun and games now can it?
