A Kremlin spokesman, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said Tuesday that as far as he understood, an exact date for the address had not yet been set.
This year's annual speech by the president to both houses of parliament had been scheduled for Oct. 23 but was postponed, and senior United Russia member Andrei Vorobyov said Medvedev was to give the speech Thursday.
Citing an unidentified Kremlin official, Vedomosti reported Tuesday that Medvedev would not deliver the speech Thursday as anticipated. Medvedev is continuing to work on the draft, the official said, Vedomosti reported.
On the day he was originally to give the speech, Medvedev posted a six-minute video on the Kremlin web site in which he shared his thoughts on the financial crisis.
National media have speculated that Medvedev may have had to change the content of the original speech because of the crisis.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.