In his first comments on the investigation, Putin did not discuss any details of the findings, but basically confirmed that FSB agents tracked down Navalny.
Putin claimed without evidence that Navalny, whom he called “this patient at the Berlin clinic,” is being backed by U.S. intelligence services, adding, “If it’s correct, then it’s interesting, then of couse [our] special services must monitor it “.
“But that doesn’t mean he has to be poisoned, who needs it anyway? [they] he wanted, they probably would have finished it, “Putin added.” But in this case, his wife asked me and I immediately gave the order to leave him out of the country to be treated in Germany … trick to attack the leaders [in Russia]. “
In the CNN report released Monday, toxicology experts said Novichok could take up to 12 hours to affect the nervous system, depending on the dose and how it is administered. Unless you inject exactly the right dose into someone, it is almost impossible for the perpetrator to dose Novichok to incapacitate rather than kill.
Putin described reports of Navalny – whom he never referred to by name – as “implanted stories”.
“Actually, there’s nothing surprising about these implanted stories taking place. They’ve always been and always will be,” he said.
Putin held the marathon press conference at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence in the Moscow region. A select group of socially distanced state media journalists, who had to be quarantined before attending, were in the room with him. Other journalists i citizens asked questions via a video link from Moscow and elsewhere.
“Information war”
In a brief Q&A session after the 4.5-hour event, Putin called for the CNN-Bellingcat investigation, which established that a group of FSB agents was following opposition leader Navalny through the billing data obtained by Bellingcat, was a form of “information war” facilitated by foreigners. special services.
Asked if he believes the personal data of Russian security agents “stolen” by other intelligence agencies is “something routine,” Putin replied: “This happens all the time and this happens everywhere, we know that they don’t even hide that, ”and some former NSA employees talk about it generally, not just in terms of us, but even of their own citizens.
“That’s how special services work there. Honestly, I don’t see anything [special] in it, this is just a compilation, a dump where everything is being dumped, dumped, dumped in the hope that it will make an impression on citizens, instill mistrust towards political leadership, “Putin added.” This is one of the forms of information warfare. “
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov was also asked why Navalny was being monitored by a group of FSB agents, identified in the CNN-Bellingcat investigation.
“The president said why he is being watched … the growing ‘ears’ of foreign special services and, as we have said repeatedly, the various statements about the overthrow of the government also raise many questions,” Peskov said.
Meanwhile, Navalny, who is continuing his recovery in Germany after spending weeks in a coma at Berlin’s Charite clinic, answered questions from Russian authorities about poisoning for the first time on Thursday.
“I spent the entire first half of the day at the German prosecutor’s office. I was interrogated at the request of the Russian side,” Navalny wrote on his Facebook page.
“[Russian authorities] he asked [the German side] to interrogate me and send them their questions. I was asked these questions, the answers were protocolized and will be sent to Moscow, “Navalny added in his message.
Russian authorities have been asking for materials from the German investigation for months.
Putin denies US electoral interference
Putin also addressed the issue of Russia’s troubled relations with the United States, saying he hopes some of the problems will be resolved under the administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
“We start from the fact that the president-elect of the United States will understand what is happening: he is an experienced man, both in domestic and foreign policy,” Putin said.
Asked why Russian hackers did not “help the election of Trump” in the 2020 presidency, Putin criticized the question – the famous musician turned journalist Sergey Shnurov – as a provocation and again denied any interference in the United States elections.
“Russian hackers did not help in the election of the US president who was still in office and did not intervene in the internal affairs of this great country,” Putin said. “This is just speculation. It is a pretext for hurting relations between the United States and Russia; it is a pretext for not recognizing the legitimacy of the United States head of state still in office for internal political reasons.”
Trump has repeatedly dismissed claims that Russia tried to help him win 2016 as a “farce”.
Shnurov of RTVI also jokingly asked Putin if Russia would be willing to support Trump after he left office and give him a job or asylum in Russia, as granted to Russia. ex Snowor Edward Snowden.
“Trump does not need to look for work [in Russia]. Nearly 50 percent of the population voted for it if we count the popular vote and not the polling station, “Putin said.[Trump] he has a fairly large support base in the United States and, as far as I understand, he will not leave his country’s political life. “
Putin then accused the U.S. intelligence services of interfering in Russia’s internal affairs by “planting” stories about the financial activities of his family and allies, without offering any evidence.
“This is the U.S. Department of State and security services, they are the real perpetrators. Anyway, this has been clearly done on their orders. This is absolutely obvious,” Putin said. He added that “the aim is to take revenge and try to influence the public opinion of our country.”
Putin, who has been in power for two decades, said he had not yet decided whether he would run again in 2024, when his current term expires.
Putin urges mass vaccination
Prior to the press conference, Putin, 68, confirmed that he had not been inoculated with a Russian coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, as it has not yet been recommended for people over 60.
“The vaccines that are circulating among the current general population are aimed at people of a certain age group, and the vaccines have not yet reached people like me,” Putin said.
“I am a law-abiding citizen on this issue, I listen to the recommendations of our specialists and so far I have not taken them. But I will do so as soon as it becomes a possibility.”
Russia registered Sputnik V in August ahead of the key large-scale phase 3 trials needed to establish vaccine efficacy and safety, and generated skepticism both in Russia and internationally. According to the product description, it is recommended to use the vaccine in people aged 18 to 60 years and is not recommended for people with various chronic diseases and health conditions.
“I think it is necessary [have mass vaccination], experts around the world say that mass vaccination is one of the few ways to overcome this pandemic, which should create immunity in the population, “Putin said.” And I repeat that our vaccine is effective and safe, so I see no reason not to. vaccinate “.
During the press conference, Putin also addressed the production challenges facing Russia, saying that so far the country does not have enough “hardware” to manufacture the required amount of vaccine and is working to increase the number of suitable production sites.
CNN’s Mary Ilyushina reported from Moscow and Laura Smith-Spark wrote from London. CNN’s Anna Chernova contributed to this report.