The Russian journalist was actually surprised that he would be picked.

During Q&A sessions at national press conferences—especially those broadcast live —press secretaries often avoided choosing foreign press members, least of all those from hostile nations. It was only natural to avoid being caught out in public, so they would always keep Q&A brief to just a couple of questions, so it wouldn't get that much attention.

So it really was insane that, in the press conference of such a major inter