15 Jan 2018 10:01

Putin to personally decide whether to take part in election debates or not - campaign staff

MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will personally decide whether or not he will join the election debates, while his campaign staff will not raise this issue, campaign spokesman Andrei Kondrashov told Interfax.

"It is beyond the staff's jurisdiction to decide whether to join the election debate or not. This decision is up to the presidential candidate, Vladimir Putin," Kondrashov said.

The presidential election will take place in Russia on March 18, 2018.