Andrey Vandenko
When was the last time you called a judge?
Vladimir Putin
?
Andrey Vandenko
When was the last time you called a judge?
Vladimir Putin
In general, I never call judges. I meet with judges from time to time, I mean my former university classmates. There are many judges among them.
Andrey Vandenko
What about those who are in office?
Vladimir Putin
There are some who are currently in office. However, I meet with them as my classmates and not in their capacity as judges.
Andrey Vandenko
With whom?
Vladimir Putin
With my class-... Uni mates.
Andrey Vandenko
Does that expression exist?
Vladimir Putin
Well, let's say I've just come up with that now.
Andrey Vandenko
Do you know what case was the most prominent in 2019?
Vladimir Putin
No.
Andrey Vandenko
The Ivan Golunov case.
Vladimir Putin
Well, yes, I heard about it.
Andrey Vandenko
And it became a high-profile one in part because active members of society were very disgruntled with what was done to that young man, a journalist.
Vladimir Putin
Yes, of course, there was nothing good about it.
Andrey Vandenko
Most likely, he could have ended up behind bars.
Vladimir Putin
Yes, but that didn't happen.
Andrey Vandenko
It didn't happen because people got involved.
Vladimir Putin
That's good, very good.
Andrey Vandenko
Is that the only way to guarantee justice?
Vladimir Putin
You see, people getting involved...
Andrey Vandenko
Yes...
Vladimir Putin
That makes a difference in today’s Russia. And it's good, if anything. Currently, I think…
Andrey Vandenko
Five people have been detained…
Vladimir Putin
Well, the situation is taking its natural course. Law enforcement agencies are looking into the matter.
Andrey Vandenko
It would have been better if the mastermind behind it all had been found.
Vladimir Putin
Some have been fired, some detained. Do you want them to beat confessions out of people or to obtain them in due course in conformity with the current law? The latter seems to be a better option. But it takes time. There shouldn’t be any rush, nor any haste.
Andrey Vandenko
Konstantin Kotov as well. His case is currently being reviewed, and the Constitutional Court has ordered that… Things got going after this issue had been referred to you, to you personally, after the press conference. So, it appears that the President's personal involvement, this hands-on control does matter after all.
Vladimir Putin
It appears that the President, acting as a guarantor of the Constitution, has such a right and must respond to these sorts of issues, which we see happening in practice.
Andrey Vandenko
It turns out, as the actual figures stand... The percentage of acquittals in 2018 was 0.23 per cent.
Vladimir Putin
Do you know what the prison population was in the early 2000s?
Andrey Vandenko
No idea.
Vladimir Putin
It actually halved.
Andrey Vandenko
The prison population? You mean those behind bars?
Vladimir Putin
Yes. The amount halved. Decreased quietly, with no fuss. In fact, it's a sort of revolutionary development. It has been taking place gradually, as a result of various decisions liberalizing the legal responsibility of citizens who committed minor offenses or first-time offenders, and so on. It halved.
Andrey Vandenko
You know perfectly, I don't have to tell you that there were some cases that sparked a widespread public outcry...
Vladimir Putin
That happens.
Andrey Vandenko
Everything is judged based on...
Vladimir Putin
I understand.
Andrey Vandenko
On just one fact.
Vladimir Putin
I understand.
Andrey Vandenko
The Serebrennikov case, for instance. How long will it last then? And you’re going to repeat that it is for the court to decide. They have already put their signatures and names on petitions.
Vladimir Putin
Who put their signatures and names on petitions?
Andrey Vandenko
People who have prestige in society, prominent people, they penned a petition for him.
Vladimir Putin
Andrey, listen to me! The opinions of prestigious people in society are important. I think that the court takes into account the opinions of respected people. Nevertheless, it has to make judgments based not on their opinion, but based on the law and legal awareness.
Andrey Vandenko
Certainly. However, there was an incident, which triggered just as much of a public uproar, this concerns the Moscow rallies in the summer.
Vladimir Putin
Yes.
Andrey Vandenko
When the bottle...
Vladimir Putin
Everyone can...
Andrey Vandenko
Which, in your interpretation, immediately turned into something. Well, somebody threw a bottle. You draw a parallel right there with Paris and Hong Kong.
Vladimir Putin
This cannot be allowed! Today somebody throws a bottle, tomorrow – a chair, then cars are smashed to pieces. It cannot be allowed, things mustn’t get out of hand, it has to be within the law.
Andrey Vandenko
And the National Guard Forces of Russia, why are the troops so vulnerable, timid?
Vladimir Putin
They are both vulnerable and timid, they are doing their jobs. And they must do it. Moreover, here they’re dealing with protesters, tomorrow they'll face a barrage of bullets, and what’s more they take part in combat operations. And when somebody spreads information over the Internet that their children should be killed, what in the world is that? This is being said about those who, if the Motherland calls, have to put themselves in the line of fire to protect the interests of the state, society and of our individual citizens? Do you know, to what extent is it possible to disrupt the country’s balance? There will be hell to pay, we can’t risk it.
Andrey Vandenko
But when nightsticks are wielded...
Vladimir Putin
Nobody resorts to swinging a nightstick without a reason.
Andrey Vandenko
Vladimir Vladimirovich...
Vladimir Putin
Nobody resorts to swinging a nightstick without a reason. If people act within the existing rules and laws, who’s going to even swing a nightstick? On the contrary, they would be protected.
Andrey Vandenko
Watch the video.
Vladimir Putin
I believe you.
Andrey Vandenko
Showing how a woman was being beaten in her ribs, and then the perpetrator was not found, who was he? Where was he?
Vladimir Putin
Most likely, you’re talking about the so-called unauthorized protests.
Andrey Vandenko
Yes.
Vladimir Putin
Well, there you have it! Get permission, go and express your opinion. After all, you see the Internet, the mass media, including the opposition media, they will come wherever you are, just anywhere you are, wherever you go, wherever you gather to express your discontent with the ruling authorities, since millions of people will be informed about it via the Internet and mass media. Right?
Andrey Vandenko
Yes.
Vladimir Putin
Why block traffic? In order to incite security forces into swinging their nightsticks. And then you’d ask me about it. That is the point! And nothing more! To display what kind of heroes they are, and that they will protect the interests of citizens with the same zeal if they get into power and engage in governing. It is not enough to just blame the authorities in order to convince the electorate that those who do the blaming are exactly those people needed. It is necessary to provide a positive program.
Andrey Vandenko
A pike lives in the lake to keep all fish awake.
Vladimir Putin
That is good, but not enough for effectively building up the country.
Sources: Federal State Statistic Service, Investigative Committee of Russia, Federal Penitentiary Service, feb-web.ru, kremlin.ru.