Next question is about the problems faced by oligarch Roman Abramovich in the United Kingdom and the problems Russian businesses generally have in the West. Putin urges Russians to keep their money in Russia and to deal with Russian banks. Praises Russian government's help to business and says in the West, Russian businesses face only attacks.
"The Moscow Metro is an entire underground city, and it doesn't have a single public toilet."
Now the Direct Line turns to the topic of Ukraine. Russian writer and activist among the Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine Zakhar Prilepin asks about the ongoing conflict there. Putin says Russia continues to provide help to people in the separatist-controlled regions and blames Kyiv for blockading the territory and for firing against the separatists. Claims Ukraine's military is killing civilians in contravention of the Minsk agreements and that this is destructive for Ukraine itself. Putin notes that Ukraine is entering a phase of national legislative and executive elections and this is making the political atmosphere there more uncompromising. Says Kyiv is robbing its own citizens and politicians there are following their own narrow interests, while Russia is doing everything to support the Minsk process.
cc: Roman Abramovich
Now the moderator cuts away to show a crowd of young people at the Moscow-City business center who are posting clips and comments about the Direct Line performance on the Internet. Introduces a few pro-Putin influencers, one of whom asks Putin about efforts to restrict apps like Instagram and Telegram.
Putin says security questions are the top priority. But he says just banning things is the easy way out and calls on officials to find other ways to ensure security without compromising free speech on the Internet.
Next question is "when will blogging in Russia become a real profession?" Putin says it will be a real profession when it attracts enough advertising revenue.
This seems to be a common take among Russia watchers today.
Next question is from a lawyer in St. Petersburg about the space program. Asks whether is it possible and desirable to resurrect the Soviet-era Buran space-shuttle program.