Putin holds first nationwide phone-in of new Kremlin term

RUSSIA: President Vladimir Putin on Thursday holds his first nationwide phone-in with Russians since he returned to the Kremlin for a third term against the background of protests and a crackdown that critics compare to Soviet repression.

The phone-in has become a traditional event during Putin's 13-year domination over Russia, usually lasting a marathon span of up to five hours as the Russian strongman fields questions on everything from plumbing in Siberia to Kremlin's foreign policy in the Middle East.

But this year it will be particularly closely watched as the first edition since Putin on May 7, 2012 returned to the Kremlin for a third term after his four-year stint as Prime Minister.

AFP