MOSCOW (REUTERS) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will address this week's World Economic Forum event by video conference on Jan 27, the TASS news agency cited his spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Monday (Jan 25).

The forum, which gathers business chiefs, political thinkers and state leaders, is online this year due to Covid-19.

Putin's appearance is likely to be contentious with critics at a time when the West is weighing possible new sanctions against Russia over its treatment of Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny.