Putin's been very low on specifics so far. His statement a few minutes ago is pretty representative of the performance so far (if I noted it right): "We must change the structure of economy, make it more technological...to ensure the education of our citizens."
Moderator moves on to the topic of the "garbage theme," including protests over overflowing landfills and proposed new ones. Read letters from people saying the "garbage reform" is not working and sending photographs of garbage in the streets, forests, etc. Moderator welcomes a 15-year-old Instagram blogger who says she and her readers are worried about the environment and garbage. She asks Putin if he has any problems to resolve the problems. Putin says they have been working on it for two or three years. Says the problem has been accumulating for years and no one has devoted energy to processing waste. Putin mentions the garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean. Says, "of course, we are going to work on this." Putin notes that many people are complaining about the raising rates for garbage collection, but that this money is needed to cope with the problems. Says he "hopes we'll be able to put things in order quite soon."
A citizen from Omsk shows his garbage-collection bills, discusses how the rates have gone up although the service is still as bad as ever. Putin says that earlier the rates were not properly calculated to take into account the real cost of dealing with the garbage. Says he needs to look into the figures that the Omsk guy has presented. "I will definitely ask" officials to look into it, Putin said.
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.
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."
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?"
- 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:
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
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."
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."