PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) tests traditional bread and salt as he is welcomed by a young Ukrainian woman dressed in national clothes after his arriving in Zaporozhye, South Ukraine, 06 October 2002. Putin and President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma arrived in Zaporozhye to marks 70-year anniversary of Dnyproges hydro-power plant, symbol of industrialization in former Soviet Union.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) is being blessed by Archbishop of Saransk and Mordovia Father Varsonophy in Vladivostok, 28 August 2002, during the church service prior to Putin's meeting with officers of Russian Pacific Fleet.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to soldiers and officers during a solemn ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow 21 February 2002, devoted to the Day of Defenders of the Fatherland, which will be celebrated 23 February 2002.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP ATTENTION EDITORS: EMBARGOED TILL 24:00 DECEMBER 31 2001 Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares his traditional New Year speech in the Kremlin in Moscow 31 December 2001. EMBARGOED TILL 24:00 DECEMBER 31 2001 AFP PHOTO EPA ITAR-TASS POOL

FOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) visits a class of the local school in the new settlement Novaya Murya, 25km from Lensk, Yakutia, 18 October 2001. Putin visited Yakutia on his way to Shanghai, and inspected the restoration works in the area, heavily destroyed by the spring floods.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP PHOTO Russian President Vladimir Putin reacts during a meeting with Russian and Polish scientists in Moscow 15 October 2001. Putin met scientists on the opening of the Days of Polish science in Russia.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin (r) plays with a dog (c) in the village of Verkhniye Mondrogi 18 August, 2001, during his summer vacations in Karelia. ITAR-TASS POOL

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) talks to Natasha (C) and Vasilisa (R) Popovy while visiting a traditional Karelian house at Kizhi, near Petrozavodsk, 18 August 2001. Preisdent Putin is on a vacation in Karelia. AFP PHOTO EPA/ITAR-TASS POOL

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP PHOTO Russian President Vladimir Putin adjusts his hat after giving the medals of the men's slalom at the Alpine Skiing World Championships in St Anton 10 February 2001. 00419278

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin adjusts the cap after receiving an honorary doctorate in the Azerbaijan president's residence in Baku,10 January 2001. Putin said on Wednesday he wanted more military cooperation with Azerbaijan. AFP PHOTO .6.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures for people to put on their earphones for translation prior to addressing a luncheon of Canadian business leaders in Toronto, Canada, 19 December, 2000. Putin concluded a two-day trip to Canada today. AFP PHOTO/Aaron Harris

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a shovel prior to a tree planting ceremony 18 December 2000 at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Canada. Putin is on a two day-state visit to Canada. AFP Photo/Dave CHAN

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) chats with the famous Russian writer and former dissident, Nobel Prize winner Alexander Solzhenitsyn , in Solzhenitsyn's suburban home 20 September 2000 near Moscow. Solzhenitsyn has spoken out against Putin on several occasions, criticising him for having done nothing to pull Russia out of "ruins" into which it has fallen. funeral NATALYA NATALIA ZONA DZIECKO CHILD WIFE SON SYN FAMILY RODZINA ALEXANDER ALEKSANDER MOSCOW MOSKWA WRITER ROSJA RUSSIA PISARZ SOLZHENITSYN SOLZHENITSIN POGRZEB POCHOWEK SOLZENICYN Alexander Solzhenitsyn WNUK WNUCZKA IGNAT

PHOTO: EAST NEWS ROSYJSKI PREZYDENT WLADIMIR PUTIN Z JAPONSKA DZIEWCZYNKA NA POKAZIE WALKI JUDO PODCZAS WIZYTY PUTINA W JAPONII Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) in judo outfit fights against 10-year-old Japanese schoolgirl Natsumi Gomi as he visits a Tokyo judo training center Kodokan hall 05 September 2000. Putin, who has a black belt in the sport, was thrown over her shoulder onto the mat. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO

PHOTO: EAST NEWS ROSYJSKI PREZYDENT WLADIMIR NA POKAZIE WALKI JUDO PODCZAS WIZYTY W JAPONII Russian President Vladimir Putin shows off his judo skills against a Japanese opponent at a Tokyo judo training center, 05 September 2000. Putin left Tokyo after a three-day official visit for New York to attend the UN Millennium Summit. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/JIJI PRESS

PHOTO: EAST NEWS PREZYDENT ROSJI WLADIMIR PUTIN Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a glass of champagne 27 July 2000 as he looks at ambassadors who just presented their credentials at Moscow's Kremlin.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS ROSYJSKI PREZYDENT WLADIMIR PUTIN I MLODY ZAWODNIK JUDO. PUTIN PRZYBYL NA TRENING JUDO PRZEBYWAJAC NA OKINAWIE NA SPOTKANIU G8 Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) is thrown by Japanese junior high school student Shu Shikiya (R) during a local judo training event at a gymnasium in Gushikawa, Okinawa Prefecture, 23 July 2000. Putin visited the judo event following the conclusion of the three-day Group of Eight summit meeting. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP Russian acting President and Premier Vladimir Putin (R) greets Ukrainian Premier Viktor Yushenko in Moscow's Kremlin, 21 January 2000.