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The President visited the university’s new intellectual centre and fundamental library, where he was met at the entrance by MGU Rector Viktor Sadovnichy, Science and Education Minister Andrei Fursenko and Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov. President of Kyrgyzstan Askar Akayev, who is in Moscow on a private visit, also arrived with Mr Putin.

The visitors first viewed the exhibition at the Museum of the history of MGU and Mr Sadovnichy described the plans for further developing the university’s infrastructure.

During his meeting with students, Mr Putin announced that he had signed a decree making January 25 Students’ Day. The President congratulated all Russian students and their teachers on the occasion of Tatyana’s Day, traditionally marked by students as their day, and said that this 250th anniversary is a significant date not just for MGU but is a great event for the entire country.

The state should provide direct support for science and high technology, and this cannot be done without working with scientific centres such as MGU, Mr Putin said. The President was very impressed by the technology park the university has established and called it a good example for other universities in the country.

Mr Putin said he does not see any future in trying to prevent brain drain by setting up administrative barriers. Instead, efforts must be made to ensure the economy keeps developing and to improve the situation for people working in the area of science.

The President instructed the Presidential Executive Office and the government to find administrative solutions for the problem of extremism among youth.