A Conversation with the President

Today, Russians will have an opportunity to have a real conversation with President Vladimir Putin by means of a specially installed phone hotline. Russians will have a chance to pose their questions to the country’s leader live through several TV channels: “Russia”, “First channel” as well as through “Mayak” and “Radio Russia” radio stations. A conversation with the president will go on air at 12:00 PM Moscow time. Live video communication with Kremlin will be enabled by means of special portable antennas installed in numerous towns and villages throughout Russia. Everyone will have an opportunity to pose a question to the President not only live but also in advance. The following is a phone number that can be dialed from anywhere in Russia: 8-800-200-40-40. A phone call from any mobile or federal phone is free. Questions can also be asked through the Internet at www.linia2003.ru. This is President’s third time to have an open conversation with Russians. Putin has kept his last year’s promise. A hero of the Russian Federation, for instance, has been issued Russian citizenship. A little girl has asked Putin for a real Christmas tree. Her wish had been granted. Last year, information center received about 800,000 phone calls from enthusiastic Russians, reports “Echo Moskvi”. Questions tend to vary. Some of them are quite traditional about politics, Chechnya, economy and so on. Others appear to be rather personal.