Putin says Russia's economic crisis is over, inflation falling

[June 15, 2017]  MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia's economic crisis was over and that inflation, already at a historic low, would fall further to 4 percent this year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin applauds during the State Prize awards ceremony marking the Day of Russia at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia June 12, 2017. REUTERS/Natalia Kolesnikova/Pool

"What does the objective data show? It shows that the recession in the Russian economy is over. We have moved to a period of growth," Putin said during his annual question and answer session with Russian citizens.

"We have witnessed growth for three consecutive quarters."

(Reporting by Polina Nikolskaya and Vladimir Soldatkin; Writing by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

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