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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)

13:25 7.6.2018

Moderator says this is the last question and asks Putin to say something to inspire people to help him achieve a "breakthrough" for Russia. Putin gives a long speech about Soviet times about how people worked because they felt the existence of the country was under threat (in the pre-war period, in the Cold War). Putin says that if Russia falls behind technologically or economically, if it can't develop its communications/transportation infrastructure, if it can't develop health care, Russia's sovereignty will come under threat. Putin says Russia must be at the head of the locomotive of progress! Says in order to achieve this, Russia must develop its people. Only "free people" able to develop their creative potential can achieve what Russia needs to achieve. "We will achieve this if we remain together," Putin says.

13:26 7.6.2018

Putin gives a concluding speech expressing regret that he couldn't answer all questions, says they will all be analyzed and the government will respond to the things that Russians are most worried about. He expresses gratitude to everyone who supports him.

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