The President of Russia’s Vladimir Putin’s annual telephone marathon, Direct Line, will not be held this June for the first time in over two decades.
It is the first time that the programme, which sees ordinary citizens speak directly to the Russian leader about their regular problems, has been delayed since 2004.
In a statement, Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov reassured us that the event would take place at a later date. The government has made an announcement last week that Putin could hold his marathon phone-in after St. Petersburg International Economic Forum between June 15-18.
Whereas, another regular presidential event, Putin’s address to Russia’s Federal Assembly, was also postponed in April, with no dates yet given for its return.