MOSCOW, December 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is to hold on Thursday a live televised question-and-answer session with the public, his first as premier and leader of the ruling pro-presidential United Russia party.

Putin, who became the leader of the United Russia party in May after stepping down as president, held six live televised question and answer sessions as head of state.

During his last televised session as president in October of last year, Putin answered 72 questions in 3 hours and 5 minutes.

This year, the location of the event has shifted from the Kremlin to Gostiny Dvor, an exhibition center in Moscow which hosts United Russia party congresses.

The question-and-answer session will be broadcast by the Rossiya and Vesti TV channels, as well as the Mayak and Radio Rossii radio stations.

Russians in 10 cities will be able to ask the prime minister questions. Questions can be submitted by telephone, Internet and via mobile phone text messages.

The current president, Dmitry Medvedev, has not yet held any live TV sessions with the nation, but he runs a video blog on the official Kremlin website.