Some of the rogue comments included: “When will you stop violating the constitution that stipulates presidents can only run for two terms?"; "The whole of Russia thinks you've outstayed your welcome on your throne" and “Maybe you're tired and you need to have a break?"

But most of Mr Putin's time was spent fielding questions about housing, ecology, education, healthcare and roads. Presenters said almost 2 million questions had been submitted by viewers for the event.

Mr Putin told most questioners he would personally make sure their problems were resolved and, in one case, promised a woman who complained about the state of her apartment block that he would personally pay a visit.

The stage-managed event also threw up several questions about Mr Putin’s grandsons — whose names he declined to reveal — and a discussion of the biggest fish he had ever caught that weighed 20 kilograms.

Asked whether he planned to seek a fourth term as president in elections scheduled for March 2018, Mr Putin dodged the question. He declined to say whether he would run, and said the “Russian people” would decide.