Putin hosts annual Q&A session: LIVE UPDATES

Questions from Russian citizens focus on domestic issues, while AI has aided in processing over 1.7 million inquiries

Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding his annual end-of-year press conference in Moscow, combining it with the ‘Direct Line’ question-and-answer session.

This marks the third time that the two events have been merged, a decision attributed to Putin’s packed schedule, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

The event gathers journalists from across Russia as well as foreign correspondents. Questions from citizens have poured in through calls, text messages, social media, and a dedicated website, and totaled over 2 million by Thursday morning.

For the first time, artificial intelligence is being used to streamline the process. Topics of interest include infrastructure, healthcare, housing, and issues related to Russia’s ongoing military operations. Foreign policy concerns have taken a backseat this year, according to Peskov.

Putin has held similar events annually since 2001, with the exception of 2022. Known for their extensive duration and wide-ranging discussions, these sessions highlight both national priorities and pressing concerns for citizens.