President Putin at the Literary Club in RUDN

November 21. The Literary Club took place in RUDN University for the first time in the history of Russia. The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, and about 700 people including writers, publicists, playwrights, publishers and other cultural figures took part in this meeting. It was organised by the representatives of literary names of Russia such as Pushkin, Lermontov, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Pasternak, Sholokhov, Solzhenitsyn acted. During the meeting the key problems of the Russian literature and book publishing were discussed. The participants of the meeting discussed with Vladimir Putin the necessity to create the department which could unite all kinds of activity connected with literature, and would promote the formation of common literary space. Vladimir Putin proposed to name the 2015th year in Russia the Year of Literature. The President also declared the establishment of a nominal award in the sphere of literature and art for works for children and youth. The new award will be first given in 2014. Vladimir Putin expressed opinion that it is necessary to impart the passion for reading since early years, and not only by the classics. He considers that it is necessary to encourage youth to create new names and new heroes.