The Russian President replied to 47 questions during the session. Altogether, over two million Russians contacted the Ostankino TV studio to ask their questions. The studio received up to 18 calls per second.
Most questions, asked either by phone or through the Internet, related to social and economic issues.
Mobile communication stations ensuring direct contact with the Kremlin were set up in Moscow, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Murmansk, Rostov-on-Don, Kazan, the Krasnodar Territory, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad and St Petersburg. The Russian Ministry of Communications put to use all of its landline facilities and two high efficiency satellite channels.
The programme was presented by Yekaterina Andreyeva and Sergei Brilev from the ORT and RTR TV channels. The Radio Mayak and Radio Rossii stations organised a live radio broadcast.
After the broadcast, the President said that he had been ready for many questions. It was not a surprise to him that most questions focused on pensions, wages and living standards. He said he realized that it was impossible to help everyone, and it would not be proper to do so bypassing regular procedures. The goal was to ensure a well-balanced and adequate state policy.