Official website of the President of Russia

News   /

Representatives of several waves of Russian emigration gathered to meet with the Russian President. His audience, of more than 40, included Pierre Cheremetieff, the president of the Russian Culture Association in France, Nikita Struve, the head of the YMCA Press publishing house, Colette Tolstoy, the president of the association Friends of Leo Tolstoy, Professor Dmitry Shakhovskoi, writer Vladimir Volkov, journalist Victor Lupan, Marina Denikin, Elizabeth Gagarin and Ariane Obolenski.

Many wondered if they could visit Russia more often. In connection with this, Mr Putin asked the Russian Embassy in France to consider the opportunities for dual citizenship, and said that the Russian legislation was more liberal in this sphere than its counterparts in many European countries.

In response to a question about the new Russian anthem, he said that the symbolism of contemporary Russia was a compromise between various historical eras.

Mr Putin received many gifts, including books about Russian emigre families and an icon of Archangel Michael, the patron of all Russian Orthodox statesmen.