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Elderly women watch a live broadcast of Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual question-and-answer session in the village of Yelna, Ivanovo region, on June 7.
Elderly women watch a live broadcast of Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual question-and-answer session in the village of Yelna, Ivanovo region, on June 7.

Live Blog: Putin's Annual Call-In Show

Russian President Vladimir Putin fielded questions on June 7 from across the country in an annual call-in show that lasted for more than four hours, one of a handful of live performances he holds every year to burnish his image.

-- Russian President Vladimir Putin painted an upbeat picture of the country's economy and accused the West of seeking to thwart its progress, setting a familiar tone for his new term in a marathon call-in show broadcast live on state TV.

-- The Direct Line broadcast on June 7 came a month after Putin was sworn in to a new six-year term following a landslide election that foes said was marred by fraud and international observers said did not present voters with a genuine choice.

-- The event was closely choreographed, with Putin fielding selected questions from among more than a million submitted and sending signals about an array of domestic and foreign policy issues.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Moscow (GMT/UTC +3)

10:13 7.6.2018

Next question asks Putin to impose sanctions on Latvia for supposedly oppressing Russian "compatriots." Putin again expresses his opposition to sanctions in general and then criticizes the Baltic countries for creating state-less people and limiting the rights of Russian-speakers and "compatriots" in those countries. Putin says Russia working with EU to make them "ashamed" to ignore rights violations in the Baltic states.

10:12 7.6.2018

And another: "Why were the May 5 demonstrations in support of Navalny suppressed?"

10:11 7.6.2018

Putin again criticizes U.S. withdrawal from ABM treaty. He calls for world to sit down and develop new mechanisms for international security.

10:09 7.6.2018

Putin says Russia must "defend its interests in the sphere of the economy and security." But in doing so, "we always strive to find compromises." Sadly, all of Russia's "partners" refuse to consider Russia's interests. Moderator asks if there will be another world war, Putin says the world must be restrained by its realization that a global war would destroy civilization. Sings the praises of MAD.

10:09 7.6.2018
A question about Russian opposition leader and Kremlin foe flashes on the screen: "Why wasn't Aleksei Navalny allowed to register as a presidential candidate?"
A question about Russian opposition leader and Kremlin foe flashes on the screen: "Why wasn't Aleksei Navalny allowed to register as a presidential candidate?"

10:07 7.6.2018

Putin criticizes the West again for trying to "restrain" Russia and prevent Russia from becoming a competitor. West resists accepting Russia as an economic partner even though doing so would only be good for the global economy.

10:05 7.6.2018

The next question is about Russia's tense relations with the West and what Moscow plans to do about the fact that the West blames Russia for everything. Putin says "the accusations against Russia are endless."

10:04 7.6.2018

Putin says Russia built the new Vostochny cosmodrome in the Far East in order to create jobs in the region. What would Roskosmos say about that?

10:04 7.6.2018

The Kremlin live-tweeting now: "Putin to the Tomsk governor: Bureaucrats must work in the interests of local residents." Looks like this will be a broad takeaway from today's event. Perhaps unsurprising given the bursts of local unrest (over landfills and a deadly shopping-mall fire) in the one month since the beginning of his fourth term.

10:02 7.6.2018

In response to the question about air fares, Putin lists government programs to subsidize travel to and from the Far East and says that VAT on such air tickets has been annulled as of yesterday.

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