In particular, the President commented on the open letter written by musician Andrei Makarevich on the level of corruption in Russia, and the statement by former Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Yury Baluyevsky on Russia’s involvement in Georgian-South Ossetian conflict.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the organisation of recreation holidays for children.

Vladimir Putin congratulated Governor of Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko on officially taking office.

The President signed Executive Order On Early Termination of the Mandate of Leningrad Region Governor.

Dmitry Medvedev was presented with the names of candidates for the posts of head of Buryatia, Stavropol and Perm territories, and Leningrad and Yaroslavl regions.

Dmitry Medvedev signed Executive Order On Head of the Interior Ministry's Main Department for St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

Dmitry Medvedev signed Executive Order releasing Mikhail Sukhodolsky from his post of head of the Interior Ministry’s Main Department for St Petersburg and Leningrad Region.

Dmitry Medvedev congratulated residents of St Petersburg and Leningrad Region on the 68^th anniversary of the lifting of the Leningrad Blockade. 

Dmitry Medvedev signed executive orders conferring the honorary title of City of Military Glory on Kovrov, Lomonosov, Taganrog, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

The towns received this honorary title for the courage, steadfast spirit, and mass heroism their defenders showed in the fight for their Fatherland’s freedom and independence. Mr Medvedev signed the orders conferring the titles in November 2010.

The President examined the results of the restoration work underway for the city’s 300^th anniversary.

Dmitry Medvedev inspected the main control centre of the plant and the reactor room. The President also toured the construction site of the second stage of the plant and was told about the technologies employed. Two power-generating units are being built there at the moment.

The President was shown a semi-submersible drilling rig under construction at the shipyard for Gazprom subsidiary Gazflot. The drilling rig will be used for offshore drilling and can operate in very low temperatures.

In his remarks at the event, the President said that Nord Stream will make it possible to deliver an additional 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year to the European Union countries and represents a real contribution by Russia to Europe’s energy security.