Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country does not carry out mass indiscriminate surveillance.

In his live question and answer telethon address, Putin received a question from none other than former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Snowden, who revealed last year that the U.S. government was collecting private communications from its citizens through the National Security Agency, is in Russia under temporary asylum.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER U.S. SPY AGENCY CONTRACTOR EDWARD SNOWDEN, SAYING (SPEAKING VIA VIDEO LINK FROM UNKNOWN LOCATION):

"Does Russia intercept, store or analyze in any way the communications of millions of individuals, and do you believe that simply increasing the effectiveness of intelligence or law enforcement investigations can justify placing societies, rather than subjects, under surveillance?"

The former KGB agent addressed Snowden with frankness.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"M