Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, center, attends the Orthodox Christmas mass at a church in Petrozavodsk, the capital of the Karelia region, northwestern Russia, early Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. Christmas falls on Jan. 7 for Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land, Russia and other Orthodox churches that use the old Julian calendar instead of the 16th-century Gregorian calendar adopted by Catholics and Protestants and commonly used in secular life around the world. AP Photo logo AP Photo 5 months ago

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, center, attends the Orthodox Christmas mass at a church in Petrozavodsk, the capital of the Karelia region, northwestern Russia, early Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. Christmas falls on Jan. 7 for Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land, Russia and other Orthodox churches that use the old Julian calendar instead of the 16th-century Gregorian calendar adopted by Catholics and Protestants and commonly used in secular life around the world.

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  1. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen during a meeting while visiting a farm in southern Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, July 3, 2009. Vladimir Putin visits Krasnodar region to discuss grain harvest.
  2. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen during a meeting while visiting a farm in southern Krasnodar region, Russia, Friday, July 3, 2009. Vladimir Putin visits Krasnodar region to discuss grain harvest.
  3. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) speaks to farmers in Vyselki on July 3, 2009 during a routine working visit to the wheat fields of the Agrokoplex farm.
  4. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) speaks to farmers in Vyselki on July 3, 2009 during a routine working visit to the wheat fields of the Agrokoplex farm.
  5. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) speaks to a farmer in Vyselki on July 3, 2009 during a routine working visit to the wheat fields of the Agrokoplex farm.
  6. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R), accompanied by workers, walks through the "Agrocomplex" Farm's wheat field in the southern Krasnodar Region July 3, 2009.
  7. Picture taken on June 15, 2004 shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) welcoming Russian famous national singer Lyudmila Zykina before awarding her with the Order of Saint Andrey at the Kremlin in Moscow. Russian singer Lyudmila Zykina died on July 1, 2009 at age 80, Russian media reported.
  8. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer shake hands at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow June 27, 2009. Putin moved again to ease his government's clasp over the energy sector on Saturday, capping off a week of foreign energy deals with a surprise offer for Royal Dutch Shell, inviting the energy company to help develop the giant Sakhalin-3 and Sakhalin-4 projects off Russia's Pacific coast. Picture taken June 27, 2009.
  9. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R), Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer (C) and Shell's incoming Chief Executive Peter Voser meet at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow June 27, 2009. Putin moved again to ease his government's clasp over the energy sector on Saturday, capping off a week of foreign energy deals with a surprise offer for Royal Dutch Shell, inviting the energy company to help develop the giant Sakhalin-3 and Sakhalin-4 projects off Russia's Pacific coast. Picture taken June 27, 2009.
  10. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and Royal Dutch Shell's Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer meet at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow June 27, 2009. Putin moved again to ease his government's clasp over the energy sector on Saturday, capping off a week of foreign energy deals with a surprise offer for Royal Dutch Shell, inviting the energy company to help develop the giant Sakhalin-3 and Sakhalin-4 projects off Russia's Pacific coast. Picture taken June 27, 2009.
  11. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen meeting with Royal Dutch Shell's top executives at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Saturday, June 27, 2009. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Royal Dutch Shell PLS could participate in development of two hydrocarbon fields on the Sakhalin island.
  12. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, and Central Bank Chairman Sergei Ignatyev seen during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Saturday, June 27, 2009.
  13. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, Royal Dutch Shell's CEO Jeroen van der Veer, center, and incoming Chief Executive of Royal Dutch Shell PLC Peter Voser, left, seen during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Saturday, June 27, 2009. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Royal Dutch Shell PLS could participate in development of two hydrocarbon fields on the Sakhalin island.
  14. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr. Magaret Chan (L) outside Moscow in Novo-Ogarevo on June 26, 2009. Chan is on a working visit to Russia.
  15. Picture taken on June 24, 2009 shows Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) pointing at meat inside a Perekrestok supermarket in Moscow. Putin paid a surprise visit to a Moscow supermarket, instructing startled managers to lower their prices, the press reported. The visit appeared to be the latest in a series of media stunts by Russia's strongman to show the public that the government is in control of a financial crisis that still shows no sign of easing.
  16. Picture taken on June 24, 29009 shows Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (2L) visiting a Perekrestok supermarket in Moscow. Putin paid a surprise visit to a Moscow supermarket, instructing startled managers to lower their prices, the press reported. The visit appeared to be the latest in a series of media stunts by Russia's strongman to show the public that the government is in control of a financial crisis that still shows no sign of easing.

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