One Twitter user quipped as the show was about to begin: "Well, now Putin will tell us again about a beautiful country where the epidemic has been defeated, people's incomes are growing, pensions are rising, missions are being sent to the Moon and Mars, and he is a national leader in that country.
Russians will listen and regret that they will never have a chance to live in that country themselves."
Putin is asked about vaccination, why does the state says it is voluntary but some must be vaccinated? Putin says he has never supported mandatory vaccination and mentions that some vaccinations (against other diseases) have long been mandatory. Says parliament did not support making COVID vaccine mandatory. At the same time, he says, law states that regional leaders have the right to impose mandatory vaccination on specific groups of people. This is an attempt to address anger over mandatory vaccinations and what some Russians see as contradictory statements and policies from the government. Putin also plugs registered Russian vaccines and urges Russians to get vaccinated.
- By Mike Eckel
For his opening remarks, Putin extolls his past efforts, and those of government officials, to address the (thousands!) of questions that are submitted from around the country.
This is of course the central point of "Direct Line" with Putin: showing that the Kremlin, Putin, and government officials are responsive to the demands and needs of Russian citizens.
Worth also reminding that this is just one of several, live nationally televised, heavily hyped media events that the Kremlin has utilized over Putin's 21 years in office: the annual "state-of-the-union" address, the annual news conference with journalists.
Putin has begun speaking, almost 10 minutes past noon in Moscow. Presenter said nearly 2 million questions had been sent before the start.
- By Mike Eckel
This is the 18th time that the Kremlin has hosted the "Direct Line" call-in event with Putin. (there were two years that they didn't hold them).
It hasn't always gone smoothly.
In 2017, the event appeared to received a notable number of snarky questions and posts, in what looked to be a deliberate effort to troll Putin.
"Putin, you really think that people believe this circus, with planted questions?" read one post that popped up on Russian TV screen.
Here's how it looked at that time.
Ahead of start, presenter on state TV describes the difficult COVID-19 situation and essentially promotes vaccination amid low inoculation numbers across Russia. Uses interview with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to make the point.
- By RFE/RL
In previous years, Putin has used the call-in show to lay out plans for the country's future and craft a benevolent image for himself. Here's a look back at some of the promises Putin has made to the Russian public but which he has failed to deliver on. (Video by Current Time and Margot Buff)
