The Kremlin has announced this year’s launch date of the 'Direct Line' Q and A session with Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hotline telethon will be held on June 15, at 12:00 Moscow time, according to the Kremlin website.
"You can ask your question by calling or sending an SMS or MMS message, as well as via the website or using a special mobile application," the message says.
Vladimir Putin's telethon in Russia has been held since 2001. The event was first held in Russia at the end of the year but from 2011 it was carried over to April. This year, the official representative of the Kremlin announced the postponement of the event, citing challenges in the work schedule of the Russian head of state.
On April 14, 2016, Putin answered the questions of Russians on the air for the traditional 14th Direct Line. That time, the Russian president answered questions for 3 hours and 40 minutes. During the conversation, he announced the launch of the third electric circuit of an energy bridge from Kuban to the annexed Crimea. The Russian president did not say anything more about the fate of the peninsula, which gave the experts reason to believe that Putin was already tired of the Crimean theme.
The Direct Line and the annual press conference are the Russian president’s primary public events. In 2013, Putin answered questions for a record 4 hours and 48 minutes. In 2015, his communication with the Russian public lasted almost four hours.