Putin rejects TV debates, opens web site

Putin cannot take part in an active presidential campaign without taking leave from his post, something his duties do not allow. According to Putin’s spokesman a commitment to take part in such debates would stop Putin “carrying out in full his duties as prime minister”, RIA Novosti reports.

Despite marathon TV chats and news conferences, Putin – who has been Russian president for two periods, has never debated with challengers. He plans to nominate representatives to take part in debates for him.

Speaking to reporters after his annual televised phone-in last month, Putin said that it would “not be a discussion on equal grounds” if he personally took part in debates.

Meanwhile, Putin has opened an official web site for his presidential campaign, www.putin2012.ru. The website is designed by RIA NOVOSTI at the cost of 1.1. million rubles, allocated from Putin’s campaign account. It features the premier’s campaign platform, biography, interests, events and popular opinions.

While Putin is widely expected to secure the presidency in March’s vote, he is facing an unprecedented crisis of popularity. In a recent survey only 38 percent named Putin “politician of the year 2011”, which is a sharp decline compared to 2010, when 55 percent gave him the title. In 2006 as many as 76 percent of the Russians called him “politician of the year”, Moskovskie Novosti writes.