Kremlin Begins Preparations for Putin’s Annual ‘Direct Line’ Call-In Show

Oct. 6, 2026 kremlin.ru The Kremlin said Tuesday it had begun preparations for President Vladimir Putin’s annual press conference and “Direct Line” call-in show. “We’re preparing in the same way as last year and previous years, in a combined format,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a daily briefing, confirming his previous comments made on Sunday. “It will be both a Direct Line and an annual major press conference of the head of state,” Peskov said. Putin’s call-in show combined with an end-of-year press conference has become standard practice after they were merged due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Peskov did not name the exact date for this year’s event. Last year’s was held on Dec. 19, 2025. On Sunday, Peskov said a “matured” neural network developed by state lender Sberbank would help the Kremlin field a much larger volume of public requests prior to the event. More than 3 million requests were submitted to last year’s show. First launched in 2001, Putin’s call-in program aims to cast the Russian leader as a “problem-solver-in-chief,” as he personally addresses the complaints of ordinary citizens that regional and local officials are accused of ignoring. Read more about: Putin , Peskov Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Kremlin Denies Putin Met Telegram Boss Durov Before Arrest in France Earlier unconfirmed reports claimed the tech entrepreneur sought a meeting with Putin during the Russian leader’s state visit to Azerbaijan. 1 Min read Kremlin Dismisses Prigozhin Assassination Rumors as ‘Absolute Lies’ Dmitry Peskov said that an investigation into the plane crash “will take some time” and “will be conducted in full and brought to a conclusion.” ... 2 Min read Kremlin Says 'Theoretically Possible' to Not Hold Presidential Elections "It’s already obvious that Putin will be elected,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. 2 Min read Kremlin Demands Apology From Fox News Host Bill O’Reilly for Calling Putin 'a Killer' The Kremlin has demanded an apology from Fox News host Bill O’Reilly for calling President Vladimir Putin “a killer.”