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| Russia's Putin hosts TV phone-in | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has begun his nationwide question-and-answer broadcast, which is focusing on economic issues. | |
| A Conversation with Vladimir Putin is being filmed at a studio in Moscow in front of a 400-strong audience. | |
| People from across Russia can put their questions to the former president. | |
| Last year, a million questions were submitted in advance, the Kremlin said. However, all were screened and none were considered overtly hostile to him. | Last year, a million questions were submitted in advance, the Kremlin said. However, all were screened and none were considered overtly hostile to him. |
| Annual tradition | Annual tradition |
| The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says that perhaps the most significant thing about the "conversation" will not be the questions, but the person who is answering them. | The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says that perhaps the most significant thing about the "conversation" will not be the questions, but the person who is answering them. |
| When Mr Putin was president, the broadcast became an annual tradition. | When Mr Putin was president, the broadcast became an annual tradition. |
| Mr Putin left the Kremlin in May, after being obliged under the constitution to step down after two consecutive presidential terms. | Mr Putin left the Kremlin in May, after being obliged under the constitution to step down after two consecutive presidential terms. |
| But it is he, not his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, who will take to the airwaves again this year, our correspondent says. | But it is he, not his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, who will take to the airwaves again this year, our correspondent says. |
| Many will see that as a sign that it is Mr Putin, and not Mr Medvedev, who wields the real power in Russia, he adds. | Many will see that as a sign that it is Mr Putin, and not Mr Medvedev, who wields the real power in Russia, he adds. |
| Mr Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the session, which starts at midday local time (0900 GMT), would "certainly last more than two hours" and focus on social issues and the financial crisis. | Mr Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the session, which starts at midday local time (0900 GMT), would "certainly last more than two hours" and focus on social issues and the financial crisis. |
| Some of the questions have already been published on a government website. Most of them concentrate on the state of the economy. | Some of the questions have already been published on a government website. Most of them concentrate on the state of the economy. |
| One asks whether young families will get help with mortgages; another asks why petrol prices have fallen by so much less than oil prices. | One asks whether young families will get help with mortgages; another asks why petrol prices have fallen by so much less than oil prices. |
| However, our correspondent says there is no sign yet of the one question which many world leaders would presumably love to hear answered - whether Mr Putin plans to return to the presidency. | However, our correspondent says there is no sign yet of the one question which many world leaders would presumably love to hear answered - whether Mr Putin plans to return to the presidency. |