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Putin marks 59th birthday Friday

His spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the prime minister will definitely mark the holiday with his wife Lyudmila and daughters Maria and Katerina

MOSCOW, October 7 (Itar-Tass) — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who plans to return to the Kremlin for a new six-year term in 2012 will turn 59 on Friday, but does not plan any major celebrations.

In previous years Putin used to mark his birthday in native St. Petersburg, but this time he will stay in Moscow to chair a meeting on problems of the military-defense complex.

His spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “the prime minister will definitely mark the holiday with the family in the evening.” Putin and his wife Lyudmila have two daughters – Maria and Katerina.

“The Putins usually celebrate all family holidays together. They are an ordinary and normal family,” Peskov said.

President Dmitry Medvedev will definitely congratulate the partner of the ruling tandem although the format has not been disclosed.

Peskov was evasive about presents the government staff has prepared for the boss. “High-powered work is the best present,” he said.

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