January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, second from left, visits writer Daniel Granik, center, 95 years old as of January 1, in his new apartment on Vasilevsky Island in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, second from left, visits writer Daniel Granik, center, 95 years old as of January 1, in his new apartment on Vasilevsky Island in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, visits writer Daniel Granik in his new apartment on Vasilevsky Island in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, presents a state award – the Order of Alexander Nevsky to writer Daniil Granin, 95 years old as of January 1, in his new apartment on Vasilevsky Island in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, presents a state award – the Order of Alexander Nevsky to writer Daniil Granin, 95 years old as of January 1, in his new apartment on Vasilevsky Island in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, presents a state award – the Order of Alexander Nevsky to writer Daniil Granin, 95 years old as of January 1, in his new apartment on Vasilevsky Island in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, congratulates writer Daniil Granin, 95 years old as of January 1, in his new apartment on Vasilevsky Island in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, congratulates writer Daniil Granin, 95 years old as of January 1, in his new apartment on Vasilevsky Island in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, is photographed with members of the Combined Children's Choir of Russia during a visit to choir practice in the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, is photographed with members of the Combined Children's Choir of Russia during a visit to choir practice in the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, addresses the Combined Children's Choir of Russia during a visit to choir practice in the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Valery Gergiev, conductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, is on the right.

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January 7, 2014. Valery Gergiev, сonductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre rehearses with the Combined Children's Choir of Russia in the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. From left: Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets and Russian President Vladimir Putin visit a rehearsal of the Combined Children's Choir Russia in the auditorium of the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Valery Gergiev, сonductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre rehearses with the Combined Children's Choir of Russia in the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. From left: Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets and Russian President Vladimir Putin visit to a rehearsal of the Combined Children's Choir Russia in the auditorium of the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. From left: Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets and Russian President Vladimir Putin visit a rehearsal of the Combined Children's Choir Russia in the auditorium of the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left foreground, visits the Combined Children's Choir of Russia in the auditorium of the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Valery Gergiev, conductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, is on the left in the background.

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January 7, 2014. From left: Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Valery Gergiev, conductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre mingle with members of the Combined Children's Choir Russia in the auditorium of the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, talks with members of the Consolidated Russian children's choir during a visit to choir practice in the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets is on the right and IValery Gergiev, conductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, is in the center.

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January 7, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, talks with members of the Consolidated Russian children's choir during a visit to choir practice in the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg

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January 7, 2014. Valery Gergiev, сonductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre rehearses with the Combined Children's Choir of Russia in the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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January 7, 2014. Valery Gergiev, сonductor and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre rehearses with the Combined Children's Choir of Russia in the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

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