You're reading: Putin says he has no mobile phone

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he does not have a mobile phone, that he never picks up his landline phone when it rings, and that he keeps photos of his family in his wallet.

During a meeting at a plant belonging to Russian nickel and palladium producer MMC Norilsk Nickel, a worker asked Putin whether he carried pictures of his family around with him and where he kept them if he did.

"There are photos of my family in my wallet," the prime minister said.

"And what kind of mobile [phone] do you use?" the worker asked.

"I have no mobile [phone], I don’t use any," Putin replied.

"If I did have a mobile [phone] it would keep ringing incessantly," he said.

"Additionally, if the phone rings at my home I never pick it up."