The annual direct line event with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will also include a press conference, is scheduled for December 19 at 12:00 PM Moscow time. This year's program, titled "Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin," marks the 23rd occurrence of this format, which connects the President directly with the public.
According to Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, the collection of questions from citizens started on December 8, and already, more than 1.2 million queries have been submitted. The format of the event is intended to not only answer pressing concerns from the Russian public but also address pertinent issues at the national level, including the controversial special operation underway in Ukraine.
For the first time, the processing of questions will be aided by artificial intelligence technology known as GigaChat, developed by Sberbank. This initiative aims to streamline the communication process so President Putin can adequately prepare responses to the influx of inquiries. "The direct line with Vladimir Putin is truly important for providing citizens the opportunity to directly ask questions to the head of state and receive answers," stated Alexei Chuprikov, Chairman of the Civic Chamber of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
The broadcast will be available on major federal television channels including "First," "Russia 1," "Russia 24," NTV, and OTR. It will also be streamed on the official website for the event, moskva-putinu.ru, and on various social media platforms such as VKontakte and Odnoklassniki. Hence, both citizens and international media are expected to pay close attention to this event.
Previous direct line events have drawn significant public interest, with more than 3 million inquiries received last year; Putin addressed approximately 67 of them throughout the program's duration, which stretched over four hours.
"For new ideas, aspirations, and projects, support from the authorities is necessary," expressed Olga Stanishevskaia, Minister of Youth Policy of the Yaroslavl Region, highlighting the importance of government engagement with younger citizens.
Citizens are encouraged to pose their questions through various methods including phone calls to a designated number, written inquiries submitted through the event’s special website, and even video questions sent via social media. Peskov has noted the prevailing themes of public inquiries, indicating widespread concerns about health care, pensions, and the special military operation status.
Reflecting on the history of this format, the first direct line took place back in 2001, offering citizens unprecedented access to their leader. This annual tradition, though not legally required, has become entrenched as a key aspect of Putin's interaction with the populace.
Overall, the direct line is anticipated to address pressing questions not only about the military's progress but also socio-economic issues such as rising mortgage rates and the adequacy of social support systems for families of servicemen. Citizens from regions like the Far East plan to pose inquiries surrounding these subjects, underscoring the ubiquitous concerns faced by many within the federation.
"We expect many questions on the special military operation, as citizens are interested in its outcomes and support for servicemen's families," emphasized Dmitry Peskov, underlining the relevance of these discussions to the Russian populace.
With the event close at hand, anticipation builds within the country as citizens await to hear directly from President Putin. The manner of engagement at this year’s direct line reflects the broader relationship between the government and the people, aiming to provide transparency and responsiveness to public sentiment.
