Oleg Morozov, First Deputy Speaker of the State Duma:
"Is it all that important? However, if Russia hosts the championship, Putin will be given the credit. It is not proper to ask who will be President in 2018. Mr Medvedev and Mr Putin will themselves decide who will be fit to be the President".
Oleg Kulikov, member of the KPRF Central Committee, State Duma Deputy:
"He is planning to be the President. But it is unlikely. Most probably he will be President of the Russian Olympic Committee or a member of the IOC, where he commands great authority".
Vladimir Gruzdev, First Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on Civil, Criminal, Arbitration and Procedure Legislation, member of the Presidium of the United Russia General Council:
"The national leader".
Viktor Kress, Tomsk Region Governor:
"A Russian. By filing the Russian bid Mr Putin is thinking of where Russia will be in nine years' time. I can understand him. After Sochi, we will be entrusted with world football championship."
Irina Yasina, member of the Council on the Development of Civil Society's Institution and Human Rights under the RF President.
"There is no way we can know it although Mr Putin himself in issuing such instructions apparently believes that he will be the president of a great football power".
Valery Draganov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Industry, former vice president of the Russian Football Union:
"The head of one of the branches of power. If Russia hosts the championship, Mr Putin will attend its opening as the head of the Russian delegation. But Mr Mutko, if he continues to handle football matters as he does today, will be watching the event as an ordinary spectator."
Yevgeny Korotyshkin, world swimming champion:
"He will be President. Everything is going according to plan."
Pavel Globa, astrologist:
"He will alternate the posts of President and the Prime Minister until 2022. We will not be awarded the championship in 2018 because the crisis will still be on. But Russia will bid for the 2022 championship".
Valeria Novodvorskaya, leader of the Democratic Union: "I am not sure if Russia will still exist, but Putin certainly will. A very different set of names than those planned by Pushkin and the democrats will be etched on the rubble of the autocracy".