Sixty-one percent of Russians are aware of the content of Direct Line. The most discussed question is fuel prices.

MOSCOW, June 15, 2018. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of an annual survey devoted to “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin”.

“Direct Line with Vladimir Putin” held on June 7^th 2018 drew attention of 61% including 10% of those who watched Direct Line from the beginning till the end, 27% who watched certain excerpts of the live broadcast and 24% who found out about the content of the discussion from the newspaper and online news. This year the general percentage (61%) is slightly lower that the 2017 Direct Line (66%, a ten-year high) but higher than in 2009-2016. 

Respondents’ assessment of the presidential answers is high: 75% of TV viewers and other persons who are aware of the basic topics of Direct Line have positive opinions (20% express negative opinions). One-third of respondents (31%) who are aware of the content of the Q&A session find it interesting (vs 39% in 2017); a further 34% say they were interested in particular topics; 7% think the session was interesting but too lengthy. Twenty percent of respondents report negative perceptions: some of them (10%) found the discussion boring; others (10%) were disappointed.

Direct Line will be mainly remembered for fuel price rise (19%). Respondents also mentioned topics related to social spheres: health care, pension increase and retirement age, assistance to multi-child families, foreign policy (in particular, relationship with Ukraine), and others.

Medialogia Company drew up a rating of media events related to Direct Line discussed in the media on June 7^th 2018. The most discussed topics were the story told by Putin explaining why fuel prices rise, a “threat” to oil companies to increase fuel export duties. Putin also pointed to the need to lower mortgage rate to 7%; spoke on retirement age increase; commented on Mutko’s “unsinkability” and stated that the authorities would not increase personal income tax or introduce sales tax. A total of 20,420 mentions of Direct Line published on June 7^th were found in the media.

The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on June 8-9, 2018, and involved 2,000 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

The 2005-2016 results are based on household surveys; in 2017, VCIOM-Sputnik survey results were used (sample size of 1,800 persons; margin of error 2.5%).

Russian media monitoring and analysis were carried out by Medialogia Company using the Medialogia database of 43,600 sources involving television, radio, newspaper, magazines information agencies and online media. The period of study was June 7^th, 2018.

*In 2005-2007, 2013-2018 the question referred to “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin”; in 2008-2011 the question referred to “Talk with Vladimir Putin”.

*In 2005-2007, 2013-2018 the question referred to “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin”; in 2008-2011 the question referred to “Talk with Vladimir Putin”.

* In 2005-2007, 2013-2018 the question referred to “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin”; in 2008-2011 the question referred to “Talk with Vladimir Putin”.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory! The use of the Medialogia system content, fully or partially, must be accompanied by the reference to the Medialogia Company.