The Russian reporters who were there (90% of the press corps) also grilled him.

Have you ever watched one of his marathon press conferences? He uses no notes, the reporters are not pre-picked, and it is broadcast on Russian TV.

You can poo-poo the presence of foreign reporters, but I think it is a sign of transparency that Putin will take their questions and their grilling on live Russian TV and in front of the entire Russian domestic press corps.