According to Vedomosti, it should take place in late June or early July, but it may be postponed due to the coronavirus. The Kremlin said that preparations for the event are underway, but it is too early to name the date. Last year, the direct line did not take place
Vladimir Putin
This year, President Vladimir Putin may hold a direct line with citizens in late June or early July, Vedomosti reports, citing a source close to the presidential administration, an interlocutor in the State Duma and three sources on federal channels.
Sources on TV channels reported that they discussed June 24 and 30 as a possible date. According to an interlocutor close to the presidential administration, the event should take place in the next few weeks, but due to the deterioration of the epidemiological situation, it may be postponed.
The direct line will take place before the State Duma elections, which will be held in September, but so far no relevant officials from the regions have been involved in its preparation, a source in one of the regional administrations told Vedomosti. He clarified that this usually happens a month before the event.
For the first time, a direct line with Putin was held in 2001. Since then, every year, except for 2004, 2012 and 2020, he has communicated with Russians in this format. In 2017 & ndash;2019, the event was held in the first month of summer.
Last year, the direct line in the traditional format was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, according to the press secretary of the president Dmitry Peskov, “some of its elements” were added to the large press conference of Putin, which was held in December. Also during the year, the president made several televised addresses to the Russians.
On the eve of the Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, said that in the capital in recent days, they have recorded an “explosive increase in the diagnosis of COVID”. Because of this, the city has introduced additional restrictions: the days from 15 to 19 June are declared non-working for some categories of Muscovites, from 13 to 20 June it is forbidden to visit zoos, food courts and children’s playrooms, and restaurants and cafes are closed from 23: 00 to 6: 00. Sobyanin alsoI recommended that employers transfer at least 30% of their employees to remote work. Following the capital, new restrictions were introduced in the regions.
Nevertheless, in early June, Peskov said that this year the direct line will take place. The day before, he told reporters that preparations for the event are continuing, but it is too early to name the date. “We will inform you in a timely manner,” he promised.