Interfax: Putin to say “something big” at Valdai next week – spokesman

(Interfax – October 13, 2017)

President Vladimir Putin is to make a “very important” speech at the Valdai discussion club meeting next week, his press secretary Dmitry Peskov has said, privately-owned Russian news agency Interfax reported on 13 October.

“Something really important is being prepared for his traditionally interesting address at the Valdai forum,” Peskov said.

Putin, who attends the forum every year “intends to keep to that tradition this year. He’s now working on his address,” Peskov said.

While there was no further detail of what Putin intends to say, there has been considerable speculation in the Russian press that Putin will launch his presidential election campaign between October and December (see BBCM reports “Inside sources say Putin to put off announcing re-election until year end” of 6 Dec 7 and “Daily says Kremlin plans two-stage process for Putin’s nomination” of 12 Sep 17)