Putin to celebrate birthday in Siberian taiga — spokesman
Putin will be staying some 300-400 kilometers away from the nearest settlement
MOSCOW, October 6. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken Tuesday as a day off to celebrate his birthday in the Siberian taiga, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.
He said that Putin will be staying "some 300-400 kilometers away from the nearest settlement" but refused to give any details of the president's vacation and to name those who will accompany Putin.
Peskov said the location was selected as on Wednesday Putin was scheduled to visit the Siberian Federal District.
Over the years of his presidency, Peskov noted, Putin has never taken days off on his birthday. “This time, the president has decided to celebrate his birthday this way,” Kremlin spokesman said. Peskov noted, that Putin has had a very busy schedule lately, sometimes round-the-clock.
When asked by TASS what kind of birthday presents the presidential administration staff have prepared for their boss, Peskov said that they would send him a congratulatory telegram, as usual. “These will be warm words to the boss,” he said. As for other presents, he noted most of them were typically lodged in the Presidential Library. “Putin keeps only personal gifts,” he added.
Putin will turn 62 on October 7.
Last year Vladimir Putin celebrated his birthday on the Indonesian island of Bali where he came to take part in the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Before starting the plenary session, participants of the summit congratulated Vladimir Putin on his birthday. President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono performed the 'Happy Birthday to You' song playing the guitar. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented Putin with the traditional Japanese drink, sake. China's Xi Jinping gave Vladimir Putin a birthday cake.