The Aleksei Navalny team is once again running its own, alternative live stream of the event, featuring caustic commentary from opposition activists from Milov and co. I guess they judged it a success when he held his press conference last December. We wrote about it at the time.
Putin talks about U.S. President Trump's tariffs on China and says their only purpose is "to hold China back," which, he adds, is the same purpose of the West's policies toward Russia.
Putin says Russia has lost $50 billion because of Western sanctions. Then gives a lot of figures on how much money the countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia have supposedly lost and how, "especially in Europe," this is leading to job losses. Talks about how Russia is developing its own technologies -- mentions engines for ships -- to replace things that used to be purchased abroad. Says the sanctions "in many ways, have mobilized us."
- By Carl Schreck
A take from political analyst Abbas Gallyamov, a former Putin speechwriter:
"It's clear that the main goal of the [show] is not so much to arrange a dialogue, but rather to show that the problems aren't the president's fault."
More text messages:
"Just one question -- when will you go away?"
"The communication with the people must go on. I recommend to organize a similar direct line with the Patriarch Kirill."
"People in our country do not know themselves what they want."
- By Carl Schreck
Viewers following the action on NTV's YouTube Channel don't seem impressed so far:
The ratio was flagged by this Twitter user, who appears to have found a similar trend at other Russia news outlets, including state-owned Rossia-24:
Text messages running on screen:
"When will the serfdom system be back? We are waiting for a new landlord, who could buy out our village and create jobs."
"I am eager to change our country! Will you help me?"
Moderator asks about subsidized mortgages for families with children and Putin talks about the government's programs in this area. He admits the Finance Ministry didn't give banks enough money for the subsidies. Putin said he learned about this problem while preparing for this Direct Line and now "the problem in principle is already resolved."
Moderator mentions the landfill protests. Putin discusses the government's plans for waste-processing plants and says the money for it has already been allocated.