Sergei Mikhalkov died

Sergei Mikhalkov, poet, writer and playwright, author of the texts of the Anthem of the USSR and the last edition of the Anthem of Russia, died at the age of 97, ITAR-TASS reports. On Wednesday, he was taken to the Burdenko Research Institute in serious condition, Life.ru clarifies. He died on Thursday at 12.30. "He died of old age, he just fell asleep," Mikhalkov's grandson Yegor Konchalovsky told RIA Novosti.

President Dmitry Medvedev expressed sincere condolences to Mikhalkov's wife, his son Nikita Mikhalkov, all relatives, friends and admirers of the deceased poet's talent, the Kremlin press service reported.

Farewell and funeral will most likely take place on Saturday, August 29, said Yegor Konchalovsky.

Sergei Mikhalkov has been a member of the Writers' Union of the USSR since 1937. During the Great Patriotic War, he served as a war correspondent for the newspapers "For the Glory of the Motherland", "Stalin's Falcon". In 1962, he organized and headed the All-Union satirical film magazine "Wick".

In 1943, Sergei Mikhalkov, together with military journalist Georgy El-Registan (Gabriel Arkadyevich Ureklyan), wrote the text for the USSR national anthem, which was first performed on New Year's Eve 1944. In 1977, Mikhalkov created the second edition of the national anthem of the USSR. In 1993, by a decree of the Russian government, the writer was introduced to the Commission (co-chairman) for the creation of the anthem of the Russian Federation. In 2001, for the third time, he became the author of the text of the national anthem, now the Russian Federation.

Mikhalkov also headed the Moscow Writers' Organization (1965-1970), was chairman of the board of the Union of Writers of the RSFSR and secretary of the board of the Union of Writers of the USSR (1970-1992). He was co-chairman of the executive committee of the Community of Writers' Unions (1992-1999), honorary chairman of the executive committee of the International Community of Writers' Unions (1999-2000).

Sergei Mikhalkov - Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of four State Prizes, the Lenin Prize. He was also awarded two military orders and six medals, four orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, the Order of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree, two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor, the Order of Friendship of Peoples, the Order of Honor, the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the Order of St. "For Merit to the Fatherland" II degree, the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, orders and medals of the socialist countries.