article_snippet.sent: (Russia tightly-managed democracy, where being an opposition politician can seriously damage your health, chances to question the country's leader are rare.
article_snippet.sent: Putin cuts an isolated figure, closely guarded behind the walls of the Kremlin, traveling to-and-fro by helicopter or high-speed motorcade.
article_snippet.sent: Interaction with ordinary Russians is usually carefully controlled and fleeting.
article_snippet.sent: It is direct access to the Russian leader, or at least as direct as most Russians will ever get.
article_snippet.sent: A few would-be questions released ahead of the event give us a flavor of what's on Russia's mind.
article_snippet.sent: One man, who identifies himself as Vitaly from the Leningrad region, asks: "Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin's middle name), why are prices going up in the shops but wages are staying the same?
article_snippet.sent: With Moscow at odds with the West over Ukraine, some of the released questions show how concerned ordinary Russians are about ordinary Russians country's place in the world.
article_snippet.sent: One unidentified schoolgirl asks: "Is there a threat to Russia's interests from the United States and Europe?
article_snippet.sent: It's not just Russian schoolchildren who want to hear Putin's answer.
article_snippet.sent: Critics of the Kremlin, of course, slam this entire event as Russia's imitation of democracy in action.
article_snippet.sent: In fact, its best not to look at this entire event as an opportunity for Russians to question Russians leader at all.
article_snippet.sent: Instead, it is more like a highly produced, highly choreographed chance for their leader to speak to Russians, and to the world.
article_snippet.sent: Sometimes, the Kremlin likes to throw in a nasty surprise, too.
highlights_snippet.sent: Critics of the Kremlin slam event as Russia's imitation of democracy in action .