Eastern Economic Forum Plenary Session Transcript Part Two

Here is the continuation of Part 1. VK only allows a set amount of characters and the first part went over, but at least I learned that limit.

Now I will ask you to display a survey on the screen, on the monitors. We did this survey ourselves – RBC, and we did it among our readers and among members of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. On the left is the RSPP, on the right are the readers.

Three questions were asked. "Will the economy recover further?" – RSPP – 42 percent: "Yes, it will recover." "Then the economy will decline" – RSPP – 30 percent. "I find it difficult to answer" – 28 percent. Among readers, the picture is completely different. 62 percent of ordinary readers say that the country's economy will decline further.

I also conducted my survey among my friends who live in different regions of the Far East, and everyone said: "For us, the biggest problem is rising prices."

Mr President, how do you think we have already passed this so-called bottom, or do we have room to go deeper, or, on the contrary, are we starting to rebound? And how critical is the problem of rising prices for us, for the country?

Vladimir Putin: Rising prices always pose a certain threat. Inflation, it also affects citizens negatively, of course, on their incomes, on their standard of living. And the economy is also negatively affected, because this is a violation of macroeconomic stability.

But I would like to note this, and I tried to say this in my speech: we believe that both the Government and the Presidential Executive Office, our experts believe that the peak of the most difficult situation in our country has been passed, the situation is returning to normal, and macroeconomic indicators also say this. I have already mentioned some of them.

First, inflation is declining. It will be somewhere under 12 percent for the year, and the trend is downward to five or six percent, and maybe to the target of 4 percent at the end of the first, in the second quarter, I hope we will see this. Unemployment is at a minimum – the most important indicator of the state of the country's economy – 3.9 percent. In all developed economies, this figure is much higher.

Our public finances have stabilized. I would like to note that this year's budget will be drawn up with a surplus of almost 0.5 trillion rubles, about 485 billion.

Igor Doronov: And this is despite all the gloomy forecasts, right?

Vladimir Putin: Despite all the gloomy forecasts.

It was planned, not planned, but predicted that there would be a very big decline in the economy, GDP. That's not going to happen. There will be a decline, but insignificant – somewhere between two and two percent. So, in this sense, I think the Government managed to prevent such a negative development of events with the help of effective, energetic and verified measures. And the consolidated budget of the regions of the Russian Federation will be drawn up very well, I believe, a surplus of 1.5 trillion rubles.

We implement all our programs, all development programs. Moreover, this year federal budget expenditures will be 20 percent more than last year. This suggests that we support all areas that we previously set as priorities for ourselves. This cannot but affect the state of the Russian economy as a whole.

Therefore, I very much hope that, based on these fundamental things, both trends and trends in the field of prices will be seen. In any case, we will do everything we can to do this, so that they are contained and that inflation is suppressed.

Igor Doronov: One of the interesting features of the Far Eastern Federal District has come to light. It turns out that there are practically no federal retail chains. For example, to go to Magnit, Perekrestok or Lenta, residents of the Far Eastern Federal District need to go to the neighboring federal district. Only the day before, X5 said that we would start going next year – about 100 stores. And there's no one else.

Why do you think they don't go? And Governor Limarenko even called us in an interview today: "Come to us on Sakhalin, we are waiting for you."

Vladimir Putin: Everything is more expensive here. This is an obvious fact. Then there's no such population density. We have a little more than 12 million people living behind the Ural Mountains, and 12 million in Moscow alone. Therefore, all this is explained by economic considerations, pragmatic considerations of an economic nature. But, first of all, you just mentioned that these networks come here.

Second, it is developing its own networks. I very much hope, and we will support them in every possible way, that their development will also have a positive impact on this sphere of economic activity.

Igor Doronov: And when we talk about the Far East, is it even possible to talk exclusively in terms of "profitable" and "unprofitable"?

Vladimir Putin: You know, from the point of view of the state's actions and the logic of the state's actions, of course, we must first of all be guided by strategic issues related to the development of the territory, prevent depopulation, and create favorable conditions for life. That is why we are implementing all these support measures. If necessary, I can list them later if there are any questions.

But business reacts to what? On how economic life develops. You asked me questions, for example, about gas and our relations with consumers in Europe. Poland took and closed Yamal-Europe and put it under sanctions. For political reasons? Not only.

It turns out that the Poles bought gas from us more expensively than the Germans. They closed the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, but they began to buy our gas in reverse in Germany. And the Germans, receiving the cheapest gas, began to sell to the Poles a little more expensive. That's it, that's the basis of this decision.

True, based on their pragmatic interests, the companies concerned have harmed their own consumers. Why? Because the volume of our gas in Europe has decreased – immediately the price has increased, and everything has been lost again. Understand? And it happens everywhere. But in economics, there is no other way to do it. It is impossible to damage objective economic laws – everything will boomerang back.

Just as you asked about limiting prices for our energy resources, for example, someone there makes some decisions. Absolutely stupid decision. If someone tries to implement it, it will not lead to anything good for those who make this decision.

Among other things, there are contractual obligations, supply contracts. Are there going to be any political decisions that contradict the contracts? We simply will not comply with them and will not supply anything at all if it contradicts our interests, in this case economic ones. We will not supply gas, no oil, no coal, no heating oil, we will not supply anything. We will fully comply with our contractual obligations. I want to note that those who impose something on us are not in the right position today to dictate their will to us. Let them come to their senses. In the economy, this is the case everywhere, including in the domestic economy.

And if we go back to those we talked about, we will not supply anything, as I said, outside the framework of contracts, we will not do anything imposed. We will have only one thing, as in the famous Russian fairy tale, to say: "Freeze-freeze, wolf tail."

By the way, they have several solutions. We see what's going on there. Or subsidize high prices, and this is bad, because it will not change the behavior of consumers, they will consume as before, and in conditions of scarcity the price will rise. Or reduce consumption. From an economic point of view , rightly, from a social point of view – it is dangerous, it can lead to an explosion. It is better to adhere to contractual obligations, relevant rules and civilized relations.

But we, acting within the country, must act in a civilized manner, creating preferences, act carefully, stably, step by step, without any jumps to go to the intended goals. That's what we're doing, and that's what we're going to do.

Igor Doronov: I would also like to ask a question about relations between business and the state.

You have said in previous forums that the role of the state always grows in times of crisis, and I will give you a few examples.

2008, remember, you probably promised to send a doctor to the owner of Mechel. In 2020, you gave an interview, and when you were asked about the fact that you perceive businessmen as crooks by definition, you replied: "There are certain grounds for this."

Last year, before the St Petersburg Forum, I spoke with Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov. He said that "the metallurgists screwed us up."

Based on these examples, how does the state now build relations with big business, with businessmen?

Vladimir Putin: There is no need to remove certain phrases from the general context of the issues we are discussing, including what I have said now. And if I said something about specific individual representatives of the business community, then this has to do with individual representatives, and not with the entire business community as a whole.

The Russian business community as a whole today demonstrates its highest degree of responsibility to the country, to the Motherland, to the citizens of Russia. I want to note that and I want to thank them for that. That's the first thing.

By the way, I used to say to many people you know that: "Run around, protecting your interests." Something was seized from them – accounts, boats and so on. Warned about it. It would be better if these boats were kept here, and the money was invested not in foreign assets, but in the development of Russian infrastructure. Nothing would be lost, everything would be here, at home, and the profit would be received from the invested money. Okay. That's a lesson for everyone.

Igor Doronov: But who would have thought that they would do such a thing?

Vladimir Putin: I spoke about this and warned about it. Just not because I'm smarter, but because I have more information. I warned and talked about it. But many, by the way, including those sitting in this hall, realizing this, did not keep anything special "behind the hillock", but everything here, "in the house". And they were right, really.

As for entrepreneurs, I said.

As for the fact that Belousov spoke out about the fact that someone screwed someone up. Yes, in a polemic you can't tell! But this once again simply speaks to the correctness of the theses that I have just mentioned. There are certain objective rules in the economy, they simply cannot be neglected.

Why did metallurgists keep a high price? Because there is such a conjuncture on the world markets. What can you do about it? They naturally, answering to the workers of their enterprises, their industries, achieving maximum profits, did this.

It's just that the state had to respond to this in time, apply appropriate market mechanisms and tools in order to limit exports or get back super profits in various ways. They are market-based, they are well known to everyone: either with the help of customs duties, or by returning these super-profits in another way.

But entrepreneurs working in this area, of course, should have known in advance what the state intends and can do in this sense. This is such a delicate sphere, a thin "fabric" of interaction within the economy. There is nothing so terrible here, all this is regulated calmly, we will carefully do this in the future.

Igor Doronov: As for the conditions. We created them in order for them to stay here, to leave offshore. Now, I know, they register for Russian, but the question is: because they are afraid that they will be taken away again, or have we created normal, good conditions?

Vladimir Putin: There are problems, and you are absolutely right. It is necessary to create conditions, first of all, this is connected, of course, with reliability and rights to protect property. You are absolutely right, and here a significant part of the responsibility is on the side of the state.

Igor Doronov: About tourism. Yesterday there was the Presidium of the State Tourism Council, which was held here in Vladivostok, and I will ask you to more clearly indicate the position on visas.

We have many visa-free agreements with Latin American countries, and with Europe there is practically no one, but on the contrary, European tourists, it seems to me, could go here. Maybe not to close with some kind of tourist curtain, but on the contrary, to let them in?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I share your point of view. Just as, say, in the energy sector, we will not allow anyone to impose any decisions on us, their hands are short, but in this area we should not do anything that contradicts our interests. Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov will be angry with me, probably because...

Igor Doronov: Yes, he is looking carefully here in the hall.

Vladimir Putin: Because the Foreign Ministry always acts in a mirror manner: they spit on us, we also have to spit and so on, our visas have been closed, and we must also close everyone's visas. There is no need to do anything that is not in our interest.

Are we interested in young people coming and studying with us? Yes. What's the point of closing them? We are interested in the fact that businesses come here and work with us, despite all the restrictions. And there are a lot of businessmen who love Russia, trust it and want to work here. Yes, welcome, please let them come and work. What limits them?

Or to us, let's say, tutors come and teach our children. Yes, let them come and work. What's wrong with that? Athletes, for example. Artists. Why limit them? We will not cut these contacts ourselves. And those who do, they are not isolating us, but themselves.

Igor Doronov: Yesterday, as far as I understand, a small dispute arose at the same presidium about the Federal Agency for Tourism. Zarina Doguzova asked that it is possible to strengthen the powers of the Federal Agency for Tourism, and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko did not agree with this. How will the scheme be built further? What decision did you make?

Vladimir Putin: Everything there is very simple in fact and everything is also very pragmatic. First, of course, domestic tourism is extremely important, very important. And inbound tourism is very important. We have a huge country. Our friends and colleagues here have spoken about this. Our friend from the People's Republic of China spoke to everyone else: from Mongolia, from Myanmar. I am not even talking about the countries closest to us – the former republics of the Soviet Union, including Armenia.

Everyone knows the tourist potential of Russia. It's colossal. But, of course, we need to do a lot to develop the infrastructure of domestic tourism. I'm not going to list everything now. There are many of these tools, and we will develop them.

Yesterday's discussion is very simple. Who should spend the 10 billion rubles allocated for a number of tourism development programmes? Either the Ministry of Construction or Rosturizm. In fact, it doesn't matter to me, because there is a logic to both. The Ministry of Construction is still professionally related to all issues related to the development of infrastructure, construction, but...

Igor Doronov: And rosturizm employs only 100 people, right?

Vladimir Putin: Rosturizm, it doesn't even matter that there are 100 people there, but it is important that they understand what needs to be developed. And that's important. The Ministry of Construction is simply building, and Rosturizm still determines the direction of development of the industry. Therefore, it would be quite logical to send these funds through rosturizm. But in the end, the Government must decide for itself. I think that in the near future the decision will be made, there is nothing so complicated here.

Igor Doronov: Nikol Vovayevich, I would like to ask you a question. We're talking about tourism here. But now Armenia is facing an influx of labor migrants, so to speak, a lot of Russians came to Armenia to work – right? – who do not agree with what is happening in Ukraine as well. What role do they now play in the Armenian economy, how did they fit into your society?

Vladimir Putin: Sorry, Nikol. Before Nikol begins to answer, I want to say: even more Armenians came to Russia – over 2 million people.

Igor Doronov: This is our historical relationship with them.

Nikol Pashinyan: This is nothing new, that Armenians come to Russia with pleasure.

Igor Doronov: Nikol Vovayevich has arrived.

Nikol Pashinyan: I must say that I do not really agree with your assessment. A lot of people came simply because they need to get paid. Because they are actually working abroad while in Russia, and because of problems with financial transfers and so on, they have now simply relocated to Armenia. In my speech, I tried to present our point of view, and in general, I hope that this is perceived in Russia as a movement within the Eurasian Economic Union. But the Eurasian Economic Union was created for this purpose, so that there was a free movement of goods, services, labor and capital, which we now see in reality.

Vladimir Vladimirovich said that he warned about some future problems that may arise for those businessmen who work in the West. But I think that the Eurasian Economic Union has emerged for such situations, so that the economies of our countries are more flexible. It's obvious now, as I said.

To be fair, we must say that in January-February we already had high economic growth, but in March there were already problems and concerns. But, of course, the flows that came to Armenia helped out greatly, and we are very happy.

And we are in constant contact with our Russian colleagues, because there are also areas that can now be developed together. There is a very good dynamic, the Interest of the Russian regions to work together with their Armenian colleagues.

You asked about possible sanctions. I want to draw your attention to the following question: if theoretically Armenia falls under sanctions, it is not useful for Russia.

So that's what we offer. We propose to cooperate competently and use together the opportunities that have now opened up, and to notice the threats that not only concern Armenia, but also the Eurasian Economic Union, our cooperation, in order to manage and neutralize these threats. So, indeed, we are very happy for our Russian citizens who came to Armenia.

By the way, when we discussed this in the first half of this year, at the beginning of the year, I drew the attention of our Russian colleagues to the following. If they are relocated, so to speak, to Armenia, they remain in the Eurasian Economic Union, and the probability that they will return to Russia from Armenia is many times greater than if they work, for example, in France or in the United States.

Because people are leaving now. Previously, it was so that a lot of Russian tourists came to Armenia on vacation, and now they come to Russia on vacation to see friends, relatives, and this is not bad.

Igor Doronov: Only before it was – you come to Yerevan, and everything is very cheap, and now prices have risen.

Nikol Pashinyan: This is a different question.

We also have a rather big problem with real estate, because real estate prices in Armenia are growing, and prices for rented apartments are also growing. This is a problem, but it creates new opportunities, because this year, if I am not mistaken, there is already 13 percent growth in the construction sector in Armenia. I think that Russian business is also interested in investing in this area.

What is also very important in the context of possible economic problems: despite the fact that we are working very closely with the Russian Federation in this context, now international rating agencies are raising or confirming the good ratings of the Republic of Armenia.

I would also like to draw the attention of Russian businessmen to the fact that Armenia is progressing greatly in the ranking of countries with a free economy. I must say that in this context we have new ambitions. We hope that we will get into the top ten in this ranking on a global scale. I think that there are indeed very good opportunities for close economic cooperation between Russia and Armenia to be at an even higher level. Despite the fact that Russia has always been the number one trade and economic partner of the Republic of Armenia over the past 30 years.

But now it is also important that there is an opportunity to change the quality of this economic cooperation.

Igor Doronov: Thank you. Let's take this opportunity to find out how Russia perceives those who leave for Armenia. Mr President, how do we feel about such migrants?

Vladimir Putin: We welcome everything that benefits Russian business. If the conditions are such that now it is advisable for people to work, and these are mainly IT specialists, and it is more profitable and calmer for them to work there – for God's sake, let them work.

I fully agree with Nikol Vovaevich. Indeed, Armenia is not a foreign country to us, everything is nearby. You can work in Yerevan, but actually live in Moscow. Nothing gets in the way. Many have already returned and realized that nothing terrible is happening here, even taking into account the sanctions aggression of some countries against Russia. Everything works, everything functions, everything is stable.

But if someone likes to work in Armenia, go ahead. Just as, for example (Nikol Vovaevich will not be offended, we are in the trend of normalization), if someone likes to live in Baku, let them live in Baku, in Kazakhstan – a very good financial zone has been created there. Of course, everything related to the EAEU countries is easier for us to regulate, and it is easier for people to work. It's an obvious thing.

Igor Doronov: I will ask one more question that concerns those who live in the Far East and other seas of our country.

Mr President, at the end of the year, I think the second draft law on water investment quotas for crab and crab mining should come to the table, and there are very big concerns among local businesses that small and medium-sized enterprises will simply not be able to comply with this law. What do you say about that?

Vladimir Putin: Yesterday we had a detailed discussion of this with Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, and there is a problem here. What is it? 20 percent of the total quota, which is allocated for the catch of biological resources, fish, crab, should be directed to the construction of vessels, the so-called quotas under the keel, or fish processing plants on the ground, on the shore. This is a necessary measure related to the ageing of fishing vessels, and it works effectively. I think more than 100 contracts have already been signed for the construction of factories and ships, many of which have already been implemented, and enterprises have been built, and ships have been built, and have already been launched. So it's working in the direction we need.

But there is, of course, a problem, which is that some small enterprises, having assumed these obligations, having received a "quota under the keel" for the construction of plants, in connection with the introduction of sanctions that we talked about, cannot timely fulfill their obligations due to the disruption of logistics supplies and the failure to fulfill obligations on the part of their foreign partners. Of course, the Government should take this into account.

Igor Doronov: To the international agenda, about energy security, about the new security structure in general.

On the eve of the IAEA report on what is happening at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. The report does not say who is firing, the report indicates the damage that was noticed.

How would you comment on that? Do you trust this report?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I certainly trust this report. The IAEA is a very responsible international organisation and its head is a very professional person. Of course, they are under pressure from the countries where they work, including the United States and European countries, and they cannot say directly that the shelling is coming from Ukrainian territory, but this is an obvious thing. We control the station, our servicemen are standing there. Are we shooting on our own? It's just, it's impossible to say anything else. When I say to my Western partners, "Well, are we shooting ourselves?" – "Well, yes, this does not fit with common sense." That's the first thing.

Second. There are also fragments of HIMARS lying around and other Western weapons. Does it create a threat or not? Of course it does.

I saw that the report says that the IAEA considers it necessary to remove military equipment from the territory of the station. But there is no military equipment on the territory of the station. In principle, the IAEA staff should have seen this and now they can see it, because two of them remained there. Rosgvardiya stands there, guarding just the perimeter and the inside of the station itself, that's all.

Igor Doronov: Yes, they recorded a couple of cars there.

Vladimir Putin: "Tigers" stand there, it is Rosgvardiya that is engaged in the protection of the station and provides security. If you want, you can bring anyone there tomorrow, including a large group of journalists, including European or American journalists. And you can see where the shells are coming from – directly from the opposite side of the reservoir. We know where it's coming from. But our equipment, including military equipment, which provides counter-battery warfare, is not at the station, it is taken out of the perimeter of the station quite far.

But the Ukrainian side creates threats to undermine nuclear security. Why they do this, I honestly don't really understand. Just to draw attention to your situation, what, to create additional crises there?

By the way, we do not often talk about this, but we do not hide it either – we even tried to carry out terrorist acts on the territory of the Russian Federation, undermining high-voltage power lines close to our nuclear power facilities. That is, they are purposefully working in this direction. Why, what is the point of this, to create threats to the whole of Europe, I honestly do not really understand. But they do.

Yesterday I asked the head of Rosatom [Alexei Yevgenyevich] Likhachev that Rosatom submit additional proposals to ensure safety, because the main threat there is not even a reactor, but a storage facility for spent fuel.

Igor Doronov: Spent fuel, yes.

But at the same time, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, [says] – if I may, I will read the quote now, I found the following translation right now: "Today we are meeting as part of accession talks with representatives of Ukraine. So far, we do not have a concrete plan for defeating fascist Russia and its fascist regime." What's that?

Vladimir Putin: What does this have to do with the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant? None, huh?

Igor Doronov: It has nothing to do with the nuclear power plant. It's just that he gave that characterization to our country.

Vladimir Putin: He just grinds his tongue, he is a great expert on this part.

We have seen the calls of the head of European diplomacy to defeat Russia on the battlefield. Strange diplomatic attitude. If he were the minister of defense of some country, you could understand this rhetoric, and from the mouth of the chief diplomat of the European Union it sounds very strange. God is with him, God is his judge, let him state what he wants.

As for fascist regimes, what can I say to that? You know, if he had lived in the '30s... He's Spanish, right?

Igor Doronov: Yes, a Spaniard.

Vladimir Putin: If he had lived in Spain in the 30s and had heard the well-known sacramental phrase in the weather report: "There is a cloudless sky over all of Spain" – as you know, this was a signal for the start of a coup d'état on the part of General Franco, would he have taken up arms, and on whose side would he be? On the side of Spain's democratically elected left-wing government at the time? Or on the side of the putschists? In my opinion, he would be on the side of the putschists, because today he supports just the same putschists on the territory of Ukraine. The primary source of today's power is the coup d'état of 2014. He supports them, and then he would be on the side of the fascists for sure. That's who's on the side of the fascists. That's the first thing.

Second. Today, he actively supports, as well as the whole of Europe, the Ukrainian authorities. I have repeatedly discussed these topics with our European partners, and we always point to the neo-Nazi trace in the current authorities of Kiev. And they say to me all the time, "Okay! There are all sorts of neo-Nazis like that, both you have and we have." Yes. But neither in our country nor in other civilized countries do they elevate these Nazis and extreme nationalists of the Nazi persuasion to the rank of national heroes. That's the difference. And in Ukraine, they do just that.

If the gentleman, the one you mentioned, God bless him, understood who Bandera, Shukhevych and so on were (the neo-Nazis who shot Russians, Jews, Poles, and the German occupiers shifted this dirty work mainly to them, they destroyed people there), would have proceeded from these considerations, he would understand where real Nazism flourishes and where it is maintained at the state level.

We need to give him the opportunity to look reality in the eye, and then listen. If he has even a drop of conscience, he must draw the right conclusions.

Igor Doronov: At the same time, the events that took place in Ukraine at that time, the Volyn massacre, are also the tragedies of many families. Now we, too, are facing tragedies.

In early March, I stopped communicating with my friend, who lives in Kiev. He stopped communicating with me. Dmitry Sergeyevich Peskov told Human Rights Watch in an interview that his wife had also broken all ties with her childhood friends.

How can we cope with these tragedies, how can we, ordinary people, establish relations with ordinary Ukrainians?

Vladimir Putin: You know, in Ukraine for a long time, the actual power fell into the hands of extreme nationalists and neo-Nazis, and they are simply carrying out total terror there. Many people are simply afraid to even open their mouths and say what they really think.

What's going on there? We are sometimes critical of some of our citizens who perceive our actions to protect Donbass in their own way. And there they are shot in the street, killed without trial and investigation – those who have a different opinion from the authorities in power. There they are just physically destroyed. Is there a difference? Do we understand what is happening there or not? You have to understand.

Therefore, I assure you, there are a huge number of people in Ukraine who hate this regime, and, of course, we must rely on these people who understand what is happening and are ready to fight it, they simply cannot. They are under the yoke of the neo-Nazi regime there. So what can you do. But I assure you, there are many such people, and we must maintain relations with them, we will do this. And I am sure that the future of Russian-Ukrainian relations belongs to this part of Ukrainian society.

Igor Doronov: Then we have to explain to them what we come there with, what values we carry.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, they will explain it to you. Go to Donbass and ask Ukrainians who live in Donbass what values they protect. They defend their homeland, their identity, their history and their people.

Igor Doronov: As a journalist, I cannot help but ask a corporate question, so to speak.

On the fifth day, Ivan Safronov was sentenced for treason - 22 years. This is the longest term under this article in recent years for sure.

Farther. The license of Novaya Gazeta was revoked, and it is managed by a Nobel laureate. In general, since the beginning of February, about 30 media outlets have been closed or suspended in Russia, and many journalists have gone abroad, to Latvia, for example, and now work from there, from Latvia.

In your opinion, is such an increase in pressure on the media justified? Is this not a manifestation of the multipolar or unipolar world that we are talking about?

Vladimir Putin: You mentioned the Nobel Peace Laureate, and we are very pleased that our citizen received the Nobel Peace Prize.

But, in my opinion, the Nobel Committee has largely devalued the importance of Nobel Prizes in the humanitarian field.

Remember, I treat all my colleagues well, despite all the disagreements, say, with our American partners. We had a business relationship with President Obama as well. Why was he given a Nobel laureate? I never talked about it, but you just force me to say: what did he do in the field of peace protection? I am referring to the fighting in some regions of the world that took place when he was president. What's that all about? Now they gave it to our citizen.

We know many cases when decisions are made solely under the influence of the current political situation. This does no credit to those who make such decisions. Nevertheless, we will be happy for those of our citizens who receive such a premium.

Now about those who left and work from the territory of other countries. I assure you, they are glad that they can leave. They have always worked against our country when they were here, but now, under the guise of being threatened by something here, they gladly moved there on the same salary that they received when they were here.

Yes, it's just that today's situation forces everyone who has a position to determine their position. They decided to go to the nearest foreign country and work there in some anti-Russian centers. Well, let them work.

Our task is to explain to the overwhelming majority of citizens of the Russian Federation the position of the Russian Federation, the position of the Russian leadership, our actions that are aimed at protecting the interests of the Russian people and the multinational people of the Russian Federation as a whole. We act solely on the basis of these considerations. And we see that the vast majority of citizens are on our side.

Igor Doronov: 22 years is a very strict sentence.

Vladimir Putin: As for 22 years, this journalist received this sentence, as far as I understand, I do not know the details, I only know that he was not only a journalist, he was also an adviser to the head of Roscosmos and earned money not only by journalistic activities, but by collecting relevant materials and transferring them to the disposal of one of the Western intelligence agencies. Counterintelligence worked on him for several years, sat on his channels of communication with those who paid him for this information – closed, secret information – money, fixed everything. Then, in the course of investigative actions, she arrested not only him, but also the means of communication that he used. The court considered this proved and adopted an appropriate judicial decision.

To what extent it is fair in terms of the sentence he received for what he did, I do not presume to judge. Here the Prosecutor General is, if he believes that this is an excessive, too severe punishment, the prosecutor can always appeal, and the lawyers of the defendant, the convict can submit the relevant documents to a higher court instance.

Igor Doronov: I will ask one last question, and we will conclude. I would like to finish on the Far East. You were asked last year about your attitude towards the Far East, but now the situation has changed. Have you now rethought your attitude towards the Far East and the people who live here? How do you feel about them now?

Vladimir Putin: No, nothing has changed in this sense. On the contrary, and our Chinese friend, speaking, said that the Far East is of great interest to Russia and to Russia's neighbours in the Asian region. We are very pleased that our positions coincide. Our colleague from Myanmar, Nikol Vovayevich spoke about this, and our colleague from Mongolia spoke about it.

But the most important thing for us is that the Far East, along with the Arctic, are regions that, of course, are the future of Russia. This is not only resources, it has access to a region of the world that is actively and developing at a very good pace. We began to raise the Far East not because we were preparing some kind of special military operation in the Donbass. That was long before that. This is a strategic choice, based on the trends in the development of the global economy and, accordingly, the birth of new centers of power in the world, proceeding from the fact that we have very good, good and friendly relations, a high level of relations with China, with our neighbors here in the region, as a whole. Everything here is on the rise. So why should we shun that then? Vice versa. You have to be trendy. We need to develop everything here that contributes to the development of our contacts with this region of the world.

We decided so many years ago, and we are very pleased that we made such a choice, and we are pleased with the results. They may be modest for now, but they are there. After all, the most important task here, as I have already said, is to prevent depopulation, but on the contrary, to make this region an attractive place for citizens.

And look, for the first time in recent history, we are seeing a migration influx in the Far East. This first happened in 2021. There is even a natural population decline, but it is less than the national average. It is the main aggregator of what is being done, and in principle, it seems to be done in the right direction.

We still have a lot to do, we haven't done much yet, but we will definitely continue on this path.

Igor Doronov: Thank you very much. I want to thank all of our guests.

Mr President, as the host, you have the final say.

Vladimir Putin: I did not prepare any final words. I just want to thank the attentive audience and I want to thank our friends who found it possible, despite the current affairs in their countries, to devote this time to a visit to Russia.

Of course, I have no doubt about this – we still have bilateral meetings ahead, I have already met with some of my colleagues, and we will see some of them now – we will sum up the results of what has been done in bilateral relations recently, we will outline steps for the future.

This will certainly benefit our bilateral relations and our cooperation here in the Strategically Important Russian Far East region.

Thank you very much!