Prime Minister Vladimir Putin fielded a...
During his time as president, Putin held six live phone-ins.
Today"s session was held in Gostiny Dvor, an exhibition center in downtown Moscow used as the venue of United Russia party congresses. Putin answered more than 90 questions in 4 hours and 2 minutes, beating his previous record of 3 hours and 8 minutes.
Russians were able to submit questions by phone, online, and via text message. A large share of the questions reflected concerns over social problems.
Putin"s main points:
Domestic issues:
- The Russian Armed Forces must keep up with modern challenges to reliably ensure national security
- Russia will continue to rely on its own defense industry to develop and produce new weaponry
- Much has been done to defeat terrorism in Russia, but the threat has not been eliminated
- Radical measures will be taken to end the surge of militant violence in the North Caucasus, but a new war is not expected in the region