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Elderly women watch a live broadcast of Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual question-and-answer session in the village of Yelna, Ivanovo region, on June 7.
Elderly women watch a live broadcast of Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual question-and-answer session in the village of Yelna, Ivanovo region, on June 7.

Live Blog: Putin's Annual Call-In Show

Russian President Vladimir Putin fielded questions on June 7 from across the country in an annual call-in show that lasted for more than four hours, one of a handful of live performances he holds every year to burnish his image.

-- Russian President Vladimir Putin painted an upbeat picture of the country's economy and accused the West of seeking to thwart its progress, setting a familiar tone for his new term in a marathon call-in show broadcast live on state TV.

-- The Direct Line broadcast on June 7 came a month after Putin was sworn in to a new six-year term following a landslide election that foes said was marred by fraud and international observers said did not present voters with a genuine choice.

-- The event was closely choreographed, with Putin fielding selected questions from among more than a million submitted and sending signals about an array of domestic and foreign policy issues.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Moscow (GMT/UTC +3)

11:21 7.6.2018

11:23 7.6.2018

"I love Russia but I hate Soviet-style propaganda. Enough already."

11:23 7.6.2018

Medical researchers now telling Putin that it takes too long to get government approval for technological advances. Putin says he knows there are problems with certification. He says a medical device demonstrated by one of the researchers needed to undergo testing first but congratulates him on developing the device, offers support.

11:26 7.6.2018

The most interesting stuff is happening in the background, like last year.

"Tell the people what is the use for them of the elites and super-rich managers and bureaucrats?"

11:28 7.6.2018

Now moving on to the subject of "defrauded home investors" -- people who buy apartments in yet-to-be-built housing complexes. This issue has sparked sporadic protests in various parts of Russia over the past decade or so.

Putin says the government is paying attention to the issue, but says the problem is broader, adding that government oversight has been too lax. He says governors have a great responsibility for the housing issue.

11:29 7.6.2018

"Aren't you tired of being president yet?" (And what is with the Komsomol or Young Pioneer red scarves?)

11:31 7.6.2018

This Internet wag speculates that the Russian secret services are collecting the phone numbers of people sending in critical messages and preparing a purge like the one under Stalin in 1937.

11:32 7.6.2018

Construction official on video link says government as of next year will stop financing the type of "pyramid" projects that have angered the so-called "defrauded co-investors" and introduce other measures to boost residential construction.

11:34 7.6.2018

11:39 7.6.2018

On to mortgages. In a report from the home of a family with three children, the father tells Putin that the fine print in a government decree prevented them from getting a mortgage-interest reduction for multi-child families. Putin answers: "What can I say? You're right."

Putin says he's disappointed in the Finance Ministry over this bureaucratic hiccup and vows that the government will fix it.

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