Putin says Russia won right to host World Cup fairly.

• published: 21 Dec 2015
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RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT. Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia won right to host World Cup fairly, Sepp Blatter should get Nobel Peace Prize. SHOWS: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 17, 2015) (RUSSIAN POOL - ACCESS ALL) 1. RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, AT ANNUAL NEWS CONFERENCE 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "No country should and has the right to to apply its jurisdiction to other states, moreover to international organisations. (OVER CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS) It does not at all mean that corruption should not be fought. Of course it should. (CONTINUES IN SHOT) But this practice when they grab citizens of foreign states here and there around the world, and drag them (OVER CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS) to their (country) for investigation and later (OVER MEDIA) for the legal procedures, we consider such practice to be completely unacceptable." 3. MEDIA 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "Are there any elements of corruption in FIFA? Investigation should show this. There are no investigation results so far. Someone offers a confession, someone else denies it." 5. MEDIA 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "As for Joseph Blatter, he is a highly respected man. He has done a lot for the development of world football. You see, his contribution to the humanitarian sphere in the world is colossal. He has always treated, tried to treat, football not just as a sport, but as an element of cooperation between the countries and the peoples. He is the person (OVER MEDIA) who should have been awarded Nobel Peace Prize." 7. MEDIA 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "(STARTS OVER MEDIA) Anything related to the choice between one country or another, and possible (CONTINUES OVER CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS) problems there, is not known to us. All we know, and for 100 percent, is that we got our right to host the World Cup in an absolutely fair competition." 9. CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "As for the doping, I have stated my opinion on that question many times. (OVER MEDIA) We are against any doping and (CONTINUES IN SHOT) first of all because doping destroys health of people. It is a poison for the people. That is first. Second, if anyone uses doping, they should without any doubt be punished accordingly, because it destroys the very principle of fair sport competition. The interest simply goes away." 11. MEDIA 12. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "But the main thing is that there exists a common approach in law in general and in this case in particular. (OVER CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS) Any responsibility should always be personal if it has been proven of course. Those found guilty, be it a coach, an organiser or an athlete, should be held responsible. People who have no relation to the situation should not be held responsible for those who violated the rules." 13. CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS 14. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "(STARTS OVER CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS) I want to say this again, Russia must and will be open to joint work in fighting doping. I will demand (CONTINUES IN SHOT) from all officials, all institutions at all levels to cooperate openly with the international structures, and not disguise or hide anything. We are interested in it and we will follow this path." 15. CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS STORY: Russia's president Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (December 17) that suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter was "a very respected person" who deserved to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. World football's governing body is suffering the worst corruption scandal in its history and Blatter has been suspended from his post pending a full investigation. He denies any wrongdoing, and is putting his case to FIFA's Ethics Committee on Thursday. U.S. prosecutors have charged 41 entities and people including football bosses from across the Americas in a case they say involves $200 million in bribes and kickbacks tied to the marketing of major tournaments and matches. "No country should and has the right to to apply its jurisdiction to other states, moreover to international organisations," Putin said during his annual news conference, in a clear swipe at the United States. "It does not at all mean that corruption should not be fought. Of course it should. But this practice when they grab citizens of foreign states here and there around the world, and drag them to their (country) for investigation and later for the legal procedures, we consider such practice to be completely unacceptable." Blatter is also the subject of a criminal investigation in his native Switzerland. In a letter published on Wednesday (December 16) he again proclaimed his innocence in the corruption scandal.