Nina Urgant was so excited when receiving her award that she threw her arms around the president and hid her face on his breast.
Photo: Dmitry Dukhanin
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State Awards Laureates Ask Putin to Stay for the 3rd Term
Cultural figures, peasants and politicians have asked President Vladimir Putin to stay for the 3rd consecutive term in office. The statements were voiced at an awards ceremony in the Kremlin yesterday.
The Russian president invited 56 people to the Kremlin on Friday to give out state awards. Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov received the highest award that night – Order for Services to the Homeland of the First Degree. The mayor looked very excited:
“You were a new page for many of us,” he said, referring to the president. “But new line on this page has struck home.”
“This honorable award that I received will make me work even harder,” the outgoing mayor said. Meanwhile, Yury Luzhkov had reiterated that he would not run for office any more.
Cultural figures were as eccentric as never. Russia’s major actress Nina Urgant was so excited when receiving her award that she suddenly threw her arms around the president and hid her face on his breast. The president looked baffled.
Comedian Mikhail Derzhavin was the first to suggest that night that Putin stay in office for the third term:
“I was flying from Sochi, and passengers there came up to me and said: ‘Mikhalych, can you ask Vladim Vladimych to stay for the third term.’,” Mikhail Derzhavin recollected.
The audience cheered and laughed. Vladimir Putin gave a smile.
Valentina Komarova, chair of a farming society from Smolensk Region who received the Order of Friendship also suggested that Putin run for the presidency again:
“I have seen so many Communist secretaries and presidents…,” she said and made a sigh. “We, peasants of Smolensk land, wish you good health and long time to rule our country.”
Friday night, President Putin flew to St. Petersburg to celebrate his 54th birthday.
www.kommersant
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 07, 2006
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