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Putin says Olympic doping ban unfairly aimed at Russian star athletes Putin suggests altering constitution to limit presidential term
(about 3 hours later)
MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin attacked a decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency to ban Russian athletes from major international competitions for four years as an anti-competitive mood designed to shut out Russian stars. MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin triggered a flurry of speculation Thursday when he raised the possibility of a constitutional change on presidential term limits, barring any individual from serving more than two terms.
Speaking in his annual end-of-year news conference, he said it was an unfair measure that contradicted the Olympics charter. But what did Putin, who has effectively reigned since 2000, mean by his remarks in his annual marathon news conference? observers wondered. Was it a signal he would not try to seek office when his term expires in 2024? Or did it suggest that he plans to run again, on the grounds of new rules and a new constitution?
Although Putin was reelected only last year, speculation has focused on whether Putin plans to leave office or manage a transition designed to preserve his political legacy, for example by maneuvering a reliable successor into power.
There seemed little doubt that Putin, choosing his words carefully, intentionally left his true meaning open to interpretation.
Putin told 1,895 international and Russian journalists that it was possible there would be a move to change the constitution to bar anyone from serving as president more than two terms, dropping the present provision that limits people from serving more than two terms “consecutively.”
On one reading, this would prevent him from ever running again — unless he used the pretext of a new constitution and new rules to do so.
Many nations — including China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Bolivia, Rwanda and others — have scrapped or altered presidential term limits. Burundi’s president, Pierre Nkurunziza, used the pretext of a new constitution to run for a third term, provoking furious protests and violence.
Putin served two terms from 2000 to 2008, when he swapped places with his prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, who served one term. Medvedev was widely seen as a caretaker, enabling Putin to retain power behind the scenes. Then Putin took office again in 2012 and was reelected last year. Under the present constitution, he cannot seek office again.
During the news conference, where many journalists shouted and waved signs in a bid to be chosen to ask questions, Putin complained that Russia was being treated unfairly — whether by U.S. legislators who have voted to impose sanctions on companies building a Russian gas pipeline to Germany, or by sporting authorities that have banned Russian athletes from international competitions.
Putin also said the impeachment case against President Trump was a fabricated political effort by the Democrats to remove him from power — but he predicted it would fail because of the Republican Senate majority.
Trump meets Russia’s top diplomat amid scrap over election interference
“It’s unlikely they will want to remove from power a representative of their party based on what are, in my opinion, completely fabricated reasons,” said Putin. “This is simply a continuation of the intra-political battle where one party that lost an election, the Democratic Party, is trying to achieve results using other methods and means.”
He said the Democrats first accused Trump of colluding with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, when he denied there was any conspiracy. Then, he asserted, the Democrats dreamed up the idea that pressure had been exerted on Ukraine.
Putin warned that if the United States did not endorse a new strategic arms limitation treaty, the world would be plunged into a new arms race.
Putin’s annual news conference, as usual, covered a sprawling range of topics from airfare prices for flights from the far east of the country to Moscow, garbage disposal, health care and climate change. He said he welcomed all questions, critical or not.
“I always welcome criticism. It always keeps us on our feet and provides food for thought. It makes us think twice about issues raised,” he said.
Putin attacked a decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency to ban Russian athletes from major international competitions for four years, describing it as an anti-competitive move designed to shut out Russian stars.
“It’s not fair. It doesn’t make sense and it runs counter to international law,” Putin complained, adding that any punishment should be directed against individuals, not the nation’s athletes. “If the vast majority of our athletes are clean, how can you slap a ban on them?”“It’s not fair. It doesn’t make sense and it runs counter to international law,” Putin complained, adding that any punishment should be directed against individuals, not the nation’s athletes. “If the vast majority of our athletes are clean, how can you slap a ban on them?”
He said Russia’s figures skaters were geniuses, and the measure seemed directed to prevent them from winning. He said Russia’s figures skaters were geniuses and that the measure seemed directed to prevent them from winning.
“It’s an attempt to get rid of competition,” he said. “Yes, you can do it. Will it help world sport? No.”“It’s an attempt to get rid of competition,” he said. “Yes, you can do it. Will it help world sport? No.”
Russia calls Olympics ban ‘anti-Russia hysteria’ and politically motivatedRussia calls Olympics ban ‘anti-Russia hysteria’ and politically motivated
Putin’s annual news conference, as usual, covered a sprawling range of topics from airfare prices from the far east of the country to Moscow, garbage disposal, health care and climate change. He said he welcomed all questions, critical or not.
“I always welcome criticism. It always keeps us on our feet and provides food for thought. It makes us think twice about issues raised,” he said.
Answering a question on whether Russia’s economy still relied mainly on the legacy of the Soviet Union, Putin boasted that Russia had gone from being the biggest importer of wheat to the biggest exporter.
“Those who say we exclusively rely on the Soviet legacy or the wealth generated by the previous generation are wrong,” he said.
He said 75% of manufacturing capacity was built since 2000. The government had built three new airports, 45 new runways and 12 new railway stations as well as doubling the distance covered by federal highways and creating new industries.
Russian authorities were strongly criticized by human rights activists over the country’s tough crackdown on protests by government critics this past summer. A group mothers of jailed activists arrested during the protests, picketed outside the building where the news conference was held as journalists arrived. Members of the group calling themselves Mothers against Political Repressions who have been staging a hunger strike, held up signs with slogans including, “Russia kills political prisoners. Journalists, why are you silent?” and “Journalists, please ask Putin if he knows about us.”
Moscow protests take center stage for Russia’s next act
The annual news conference has been a Putin tradition every year of his presidency, closely watched as a barometer for Russian foreign and economic policy.The annual news conference has been a Putin tradition every year of his presidency, closely watched as a barometer for Russian foreign and economic policy.
However Putin does appear at other news conferences during the year — his last such appearance came last week in Paris after talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as French and German leaders, aimed at reviving a stalled peace deal in eastern Ukraine. However, Putin does appear at other news conferences during the year — his last such appearance came last week in Paris after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and with the French and German leaders, aimed at reviving a stalled peace deal in eastern Ukraine.
A record 1,895 Russian and international journalists attended Thursday’s news conference. Journalists did their best to attract Putin's attention. One from Bulgaria carried an icon. Another from Mordovia, a region east of Moscow, brought a gift of a local musical instrument and a journalist from a Moscow suburb, Pavlovsky Posad, known for producing brightly colored shawls, held up a bright pink one depicting the president. This year’s news conference came amid souring U.S.-Russia relations, with Trump likely to sign a bill soon containing sanctions designed to block an important Russian gas pipeline to Germany. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is advancing a separate bill this week that would impose tough new sanctions on Russia over its 2016 election interference, aggression against Ukraine and other actions.
This year’s news conference came amid souring U.S.-Russia relations, with President Trump likely to sign a bill soon containing sanctions designed to block an important Russian gas pipeline to Germany. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advancing a separate bill this week containing tough new sanctions against Russia over its 2016 election interference, aggression against Ukraine and other actions. Putin’s domestic approval rating remains high around 68 percent in July, according to the Levada Center polling organization but it has been gradually declining. Russia’s flat economy with growth at around 1.2 percent, the World Bank reported has fueled domestic discontent, along with unpopular moves last year to raise the retirement age and increase value-added taxes.
Putin’s domestic approval rating remains high, around 68% in July according to the Levada Center polling organization, but it has been gradually declining. Russia’s flat economy with growth at around 1.2% according to the World Bank has fueled domestic discontent, along with unpopular moves last year to raise the retirement age and increase VAT. Russia’s economy may be unimpressive, but Putin has amplified Russia’s global influence this past year, homing in on areas where U.S. influence has waned. Russia moved swiftly to fill a vacuum left by the withdrawal of U.S. troops from northern Syria. Putin fostered warm relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid the bitter U.S.-China trade war and has reached out to African leaders, hosting an October summit attended by 45 African heads of state and government in Sochi.
Russia’s economy may be unimpressive but Putin has amplified Russia’s global influence this past year, honing in on areas where U.S. influence has waned. Russia moved swiftly to fill a vacuum left by the U.S. withdrawal in northern Syria. Putin fostered warm relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid the bitter U.S.-China trade war and reaching out to African leaders, hosting an October summit attended by 45 African heads of state in Sochi.
Putin, Zelensky, Merkel join Macron in Paris for talks to end Ukraine warPutin, Zelensky, Merkel join Macron in Paris for talks to end Ukraine war
The format of Thursday’s event was less a news conference than an opportunity for journalists from far-flung regions, often wearing national costumes, to put forward requests or raise hot issues affecting their regions. A journalist from Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, told Russian television she was there to raise the matter of water supplies in the region. The format of Thursday’s event was less a news conference than an opportunity for journalists from far-flung regions, often wearing national costumes, to put forward requests or raise hot issues affecting their regions.
The first question was about climate change, with Muscovites confused about the lack of snow in the city, highly unusual for mid-December. Putin said Russia took the problem of climate change seriously, citing record winter temperatures in Moscow, wildfires in Siberia and the threat of melting permafrost. But he said other nations were mainly to blame for pollution. One from Bulgaria carried an icon. Another from Mordovia, a region east of Moscow, brought a gift of a local musical instrument, and a journalist from a Moscow suburb, Pavlovsky Posad, known for producing brightly colored shawls, held up a bright pink one depicting the president. A journalist from Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, told Russian television she was there to raise the matter of water supplies in the region.
“Russia is not one of the biggest polluters according to the UN,” Putin said pointing to the U.S., China and the European Union as the main culprits. He said no one knew the reason for increasing temperatures. The first question was about climate change; Muscovites are confused about the lack of snow in the city, highly unusual for mid-December. Putin said Russia takes the problem of climate change seriously, citing record winter temperatures in Moscow, wildfires in Siberia and the threat of melting permafrost. But he said other nations were mainly to blame for pollution.
“If the permafrost starts to melt down you can think for yourself what the consequences could be. We will continue to take action to make sure that we minimize the consequences from these changes.” “Russia is not one of the biggest polluters, according to the U.N.,” Putin said, pointing to the United States, China and the European Union as the main culprits. He said no one knew the reason for increasing temperatures.
“If the permafrost starts to melt down, you can think for yourself what the consequences could be,” he said. “We will continue to take action to make sure that we minimize the consequences from these changes.”
He also called for more dialogue with local communities about garbage landfills, a hot issue in Russia that has sparked protests in parts of the country.He also called for more dialogue with local communities about garbage landfills, a hot issue in Russia that has sparked protests in parts of the country.
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