Putin's anniversary will be celebrated throughout the country

Pro-Kremlin youth movements will celebrate Vladimir Putin’s 60th birthday with rallies, poetry readings and sports events, while the opposition will respond with flash mobs, the Vedomosti newspaper wrote on Tuesday.

On October 7, the Young Guard of United Russia (MGER) will hold an All-Russian street action dedicated to the birthday of Vladimir Putin. Regional headquarters will determine the format of local actions at their discretion, said Maxim Rudnev, chairman of the coordination council of MGER. Thus, in Rostov (Yaroslavl region) a congratulation to the president will be posted on the bridge that connects Europe and Asia; a huge postcard will be displayed in Chelyabinsk, where everyone can leave their wishes to Putin. According to Rudnev, the main idea is not to bring out supporters en masse, but to involve as many passers-by as possible.

Also on October 7, an exhibition by St. Petersburg artist Alexei Sergienko, “The President. A Man of the Kindest Soul,” will open, dedicated to well-known subjects: the friendship of Putin and Silvio Berlusconi, flying with cranes, riding with bikers. Black Labradors will take part in its opening ceremony.

On the same day, the National Committee-60 submitted an application to hold the “Anniversary Movement” in St. Petersburg - a procession and rally in honor of Putin. The route of the procession will pass through places significant for the president: the Mariinsky Palace (the beginning of his political career), Liteiny Avenue (KGB), etc. The organizers of the action will propose to erect a monument to Putin by sculptor Zurab Tsereteli.

On October 8, a concert in honor of Putin's anniversary - "Musical Compliment" - will take place at the Tauride Palace in St. Petersburg. It is organized by the city administration together with the St. Petersburg Heritage and Perspective Foundation. Tickets for this concert will be sent to VIP guests in the form of invitations; Vladimir Putin has already been invited.

At the same time, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Putin does not plan to attend public events on his birthday; he will celebrate the anniversary in his hometown, surrounded by close friends and relatives.

The opposition intends to celebrate Putin's anniversary with a flash mob "Seeing off grandfather to retirement" not far from the presidential administration. Notification of an action of up to 500 people to be held on October 7 will be submitted today, said Rosagit activist Vadim Korovin. Participants will bring as gifts to Putin things that will be useful to him during his “deserved rest”: slippers, cases for glasses, watering cans for the garden. And the nationwide celebration of the leader’s anniversary is a stylistic sign of stagnation, Korovin is sure.