Next clip is from Daghestan where they talk to militia fighters who fought against Chechen fighters under Shamil Basayev when they attacked Daghestan in 1999, launching the second Chechen War. One of the fighters notes how well Daghestan is doing now and asks Putin for permission to raise a toast to Putin. Putin talks about how dangerous the situation was at the time and gets a little emotional. Putin emphasizes that the Chechen fighters were a "well-equipped international band." Putin says that militia fighters from that period should qualify as military veterans and orders the government to do that.
Small business ombudsman in the hall says they need to improve the system of bail to let businesspeople out of custody so that they can mount a legal defense. Putin says the government has already encouraged greater use of bail and house arrest but that in some cases it will always be necessary to hold people in custody. The main problem today, Putin said, is "endlessly holding people in custody." He said he has spoken with the prosecutor-general and expects a plan by the end of the year.
- By Carl Schreck
In a question about Russia's ability to compete in the technology sector, Putin says the Russian tech firm Yandex (which has the country's most popular search engine) is competing successfully with giants like Google. I think it's the first time I've ever heard Putin -- who has previously said he hardly ever uses the Internet and doesn't use a smart phone -- actually say the word "Google."
Moderator says that Putin has spoken many times about the need to reduce state/law enforcement pressure on business, but nothing is done. "What are the limits of your patience," she asks. Putin says work is proceeding and things are getting better and you shouldn't pay too much attention to a "few high-profile incidents."
The general director of the Yandex Internet company, in the audience, asks Putin about driverless cars. Can the government improve the legal framework to let Russia move to the forefront in this area, she asks. Putin says, yes. Putin talks about Skolkovo and says the government needs more such innovation centers. Putin says that Yandex competes in Russia with international giants like Google -- "and that is partly thanks to the government."
- By Carl Schreck
Putin has long avoided publicly saying the name of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, prompting jokes that the anticorruption activist and Kremlin critic is Russian officialdom's version of Voldemort from the Harry Potter series.
Navalny's name, however, did appear on screen during today's call-in show thanks to an SMS question reading: "Is it true what Navalny says? What is going on? It's just criminality."
A call-in viewer asks about some high-profile corruption cases where billions of rubles in cash were discovered when searches were carried out in the houses of senior law-enforcement officials. Putin says he feels "responsibility" for this "lawlessness." Putin says there are two sides to blame for every bribe -- one side pays, another receives. Moderator asks what words Putin used when he heard about those billions of rubles. Putin says "better not to repeat them." Putin then says this problem exists in "many other countries, practically all of them." Mentions the United States. Moderator asks if the fight against corruption is proceeding and Putin says yes.
Moderator goes into the production room and shows a whole monitor full of governors "who are awaiting possible inclusion in the program."
Moderator read questions about how a breakthrough is going to be made with the economy. Putin goes into a speech about how much better things are now than they were in the 1990s. Lower inflation, fewer debts, no wage arrears, no pension arrears, etc.