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Putin awards Krymsk resident for courage posthumously

Putin on Wednesday decided to posthumously decorate Krymsk resident Pyotr Ostapenko with the Order of Courage for saving almost a dozen people from flood

GELENDZHIK, July 25 (Itar-Tass) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday decided to posthumously decorate Krymsk resident Pyotr Ostapenko with the Order of Courage for saving almost a dozen people from flood, Alexander Tkachev, the governor of the Krasnodar territory, said on Wednesday.

He said that public representatives had asked the president to commend Ostapenko for his courage. Ostapenko became known in Krymsk after the flood tragedy. He exerted unbelievable heroic efforts to save more than ten people. “The residents asked the president to award Ostapenko posthumously. The president decided to decorate Pyotr Ostapenko with the Order of Courage and suggested giving his name to one of the streets in a new dwelling quarter, which is going to appear in Krymsk in the next few months,” Tkachev told journalists after a meeting which Putin held in Gelendzhik to discuss the flood consequences.

Tkachev also said that he had personally met Pyotr Ostapenko’s family. It was decided to give them a three-roomed apartment.

In the meantime, the governor told journalists on Wednesday that he would decide on whether he should step down after the Russian Investigative Committee made its final conclusions.

“At present, the Russian Investigative Committee is investigating the activities and responsibility of all branches of power from local to territorial. I can decide on whether to resign only after the final conclusions are made. I will measure my actions in accordance with decisions of the Russian Investigative Committee,” Tkachev said.

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