Vladimir Putin congratulated Yury Bashmet, artistic director and chief conductor of the Novaya Rossiya State Symphony Orchestra, on his 60^th birthday.

Vladimir Putin held the first meeting of the Commission for Monitoring Targeted Socioeconomic Development Achievement Indicators.

Vladimir Putin met with Spanish tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, who will be performing in Moscow on Wednesday at a charity concert in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

Vladimir Putin congratulated composer Rodion Shchedrin on his 80^th birthday.

Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to the relatives of the National Artist of the USSR, opera singer, actress and educator Galina Vishnevskaya.

Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to participants of the forum Days of Ivan Chavchavadze in St Petersburg: Marking the 175^th Anniversary of His Birth.

Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to the international conference The World of Chingiz Aitmatov: Integration and Intercultural Dialogue.

Mr Medinsky briefed Vladimir Putin on the Ministry’s current activities, in particular, measures taken to raise wages in the culture sector.

Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to the participants of the opening ceremony of the Russian Jewish Museum of Tolerance.

Vladimir Putin met with Natalya Solzhenitsyna, a public activist and head of the Solzhenitsyn Foundation.

Vladimir Putin congratulated the opera singer and National Artist of Russia Dmitri Hvorostovsky on his 50^th birthday.

Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to the VII Forum of the CIS Member States Creative and Academic Community Representatives, taking place on October 15 and 16 in Ashgabat.

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On Celebrating the 175^th Anniversary of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Birth.

Vladimir Putin signed the Order On Holding the Year of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Year of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art.

Vladimir Putin congratulated singer Iosif Kobzon, National Artist of the USSR, on his 75^th birthday.

Vladimir Putin instructed Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov, together with the Moscow Region Government, to implement legal and organisational measures concerning approval of urban zoning and development documents and setting the territorial boundaries and protection zones of a number of cultural heritage sites.

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On Celebrating the 150^th Birthday of Vladimir Vernadsky.

Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov chaired a meeting of the Government Commission on Preparations for the 200^th Anniversary Celebration of Russia's Victory in the 1812 Patriotic War. The meeting was attended by Government Commission members, representatives of federal and regional executive power bodies, local authorities, public associations and creative unions.