Russian President Vladimir Putin is delivering his highly anticipated annual address to the country’s Federal Assembly – the two chambers of the Russian parliament. This is Putin’s 13th address of the kind.
01 December 2016
The president concludes his address with a call to continue the good work of colleagues in implementing the policies outlined.
Putin gives praise to Russia's military operation in Syria, with the battle against terrorists proceeding with great success.
Russia is willing to cooperate with the new US administration, which is extremely important. A breakdown in relations is perilous and could lead to a major catastrophe.
Russia's relationship with China is a role model for international relations in general, based on respect and mutual advantage.
The strategic partnership with India is also highly-valued and developing well.
We need to create a last system of productive international relations. We're ready to participate in such relations based on the rule of law.
A free media is part of that, and recent accusations about the Russian media are evidence that there's still a long way to go in providing a level playing field, the president said.
Russia has been suffering from international "aggression," including attacks and accusations about media and the doping scandal which led to Russian athletes' ban from the Olympics. We should defend ourselves from such attacks.
Investments in digital technology and intellectual property, with due care to the risks of such pursuits.
The president pledges the development of a 'digital economy', increasing subsidies and investments - it could be Russia's "fundamental science," he said.
Lending to Russian companies has contracted, and this must be addressed - currency fluctuations notwithstanding, the president said.
Thanks to the Central Bank, the Russian banking system is being 'sanitized' by purging non-performing or non-compliant institutions.
"Fighting corruption is not a show," Putin says, addressing the use of PR in conducting crackdowns on illegal economic activities.
It's time to stop considering entrepreneurs or sole traders as somehow 'illegal' - this is the completely wrong approach, Putin says. Sometimes the authorities cause the downfall of fledgling businesses, and this simply must stop.
So far, the president has kept his address to issues of domestic policy, covering healthcare, education, economics and business and administrative reform.
Putin addresses tax reform. He says new measures should be created by 2018 and implemented by the following year.
Trade barriers and protectionism mean that Russia needs to become even more competitive and efficient. Putin orders a plan to be created by May 2017 covering strategies for business development up to 2025.
The IT sector now banks some $7 billion in revenues, whereas 10 years ago it was almost zero. IT companies are incredibly important to the Russian economy, the president said.
The defense industry should be repurposed so that no less than one-third of its output will be directed to civilian purposes such as medical products.
Agriculture reform is ongoing and beginning to see positive results - not merely a 'black hole' into which investments are thrown never to be seen again. These exports are now bringing greater profits than arms exports.
On that score, $14.5 billion worth of arms were sold in 2014. This year, $16.9 billion worth of agricultural exports are expected, Putin said, congratulating primary producers.
Inflation will decrease, falling below 6 percent by the end of the year. This is a significant improvement from as high as 12 percent not long ago. The target rate would be 4 percent, which is a worthy and achievable goal, Putin says.
The president forecasts further economic contraction, but only slight, which is cause for optimism.
Housing construction is at an all-time high. Subsidies for mortgage access will be made available for those in needs.
Increases in transport machinery manufacture have been reported - trucks and rail production in particular.
Road improvements are essential. Major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg have made progress in this area, but the rest of the country needs attention. National highways will be a priority.
The president urges public servants to move beyond their offices and talk to people face-to-face. The only effective way to understand what the people want, he says, is to ask - and not merely make decisions within the walls of their workplaces.
Putin expresses his admiration for social movements, including volunteer and charity organizations. He urges the Public Chamber to support such endeavors to foster the work into the future.
Putin pledges 187,000 new places in schools. In addition, the country needs more initiatives to develop students' interest across a broad range of topics. Children should have a clear understanding that Russia needs their knowledge and skills, and that there will be interesting opportunities for them in Russian companies when the time comes.
"Since Russia is such a large country, we also need 'sanitary aviation'. 3.3 billion rubles is being allocated to the budget to provide this service," the president pledged.
Hi-tech medical assistance is being made more widely-available. There's no doubt, Putin says, that the healthcare sector is not ideal - underskilling even when advanced equipment is available. The administration is taking steps to address this, increasing skill levels and service provision.
The president moves to the topic of demographics. With Russia's coefficient increasing, so too are medical places in universities and in other scientific fields.
Next year marks the centenary of the October 1917 Boshevik Revolution, giving an appropriate time to reflect on Russian 'revolutions' of all stripes.
"We shouldn't take advantage of tragedies to achieve our goals. We are one nation and we have the same Russia - all of us," Putin said.
Unity and solidarity is not aided by divisive language in parliament or anywhere else. Internal conflicts are rife in both developed and developing countries, and Russia should strive to avoid this situation.
Electoral reforms have been undertaken and the recent election shows Russians live in a unified society. He adds that 'freedom of speech' doesn't entitle people to belittle others.
Putin discusses the universal principle of defending human rights.
Last year’s address focused mainly on international security, as well as the state of Russia’s economy and domestic social policies. Putin also highlighted the issue of international terrorism, which he said Russia was firmly committed to fighting.
President Vladimir Putin commences his address and outlines what he will be covering, with particular attention to the sovereignty of Russia in difficult times.
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that this year’s speech will be “different.”
“Addresses by the president to the Federal Assembly are a traditional format, but no speech is like another, so, of course, this year it will be completely different in terms of content, yet in keeping with Putin’s style,” Peskov told journalists in Moscow ahead of the event.
Over 600 journalists, as well as representatives from both Russian and international media outlets, radio stations, and TV-stations, have been accredited to cover the president’s address in the Kremlin.