Putin attends annual news conference in Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 19, 2013. Xinhua/Liu Hongxia Putin sees Russian economy not bad but with difficulties MOSCOW, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russia's inflation rate in 2013 was "not bad" while industrial growth experienced certain difficulties, President Vladimir Putin said at his annual press conference Thursday. According to him, the Russian GDP will increase between 1.4 percent to 1.5 percent this year, with growth secured in agricultural production, real wages and foreign trade. Russia didn't question Snowden for intelligence: Putin MOSCOW, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian security serviced didn't question former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden over intelligence of Russia, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. "We do not work and have never worked with him in the operative respect, we do not ask him questions about what and how was done in regard to Russia in the unit with which he was formerly employed," Putin told an annual press conference.