Actress Alisa Freindlikh, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Hermitage Director Mikhail Piotrovsky met in the Hermitage on Saturday.
Casually dressed in grey trousers and black jacket, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin went for an appointment with Piotrovsky and Freindlikh in the Hermitage on Saturday. Piotrovsky turned 65 on December 9, while Freindlikh celebrated her 75th birthday on December 8. Putin congratulated both and gave Freindlikh a big bouquet of scarlet roses. Then they all went to drink tea. Piotrovsky told his guests about the restoration of the Hermitage and invited them to see some exhibits.
They went from one hall to another, paying special attention to impressionists and the French enamel display. Putin took interest in the saber of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich (Sr), which the Romanov family presented to the museum. The descendants of the Grand Duke gave the relic to the museum only recently. It was bestowed on the Grand Duke who led the Russian army during the Turkish campaign in November 1876.
Having looked at the Japanese art display of the 13th-19th centuries, Putin, Piotrovsky and Freindlikh met with four graders from school № 531. The children came to the Hermitage together with their supervising instructor.
They were happy to see Putin and asked him to join them for a photo. He willingly agreed.
Alexander Grinberg
