Vladimir Putin holds an annual press conference (VIDEO)

In 2020, due to restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, the event is being held in a new format: video conferencing with direct line elements.

Vladimir Putin is at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo.

As the VTsIOM poll showed, 44% of Russians are going to watch the press conference live at least partially. 32% of the respondents said that they would "carefully watch everything from start to finish", another 12% expect to look directly at individual fragments. Another 38% of the respondents are going to find out the essence of what was said from the media reports. 18% of Russians will not watch the press conference.

The transcript can be read here.

Vladimir Putin's press conferences have been held since 2001, except for the period when he worked as prime minister in the government. The shortest press conference was held in 2001 (1 hour 35 minutes), the longest - in 2008 (4 hours 40 minutes).