Russian President Vladimir Putin stopped his motorcade on the way to the airport at the end of his visit to Novosibirsk and spoke with local residents. The video of the encounter appeared on journalist Pavel Zarubin's Telegram channel.
"People have gathered on all the hills. Many are waving. And it has been like this all along the motorcade's route,” Zarubin said in the video.
The motorcade consisted of around 15 vehicles, including passenger cars, police vehicles and an ambulance. Some roads in central Novosibirsk were temporarily closed.
According to the footage, the Russian leader stopped on one of the city's streets between a gas station and a Rostic's fast-food restaurant and walked over to the people who had gathered. He stood surrounded by a crowd taking pictures of him on their phones and by security personnel. Most of those waiting to see him were children and teenagers.
The president briefly spoke with those gathered and shook hands with several people. Putin also took a photograph with one of the children, asked him what grade he was in and wished him success in the new school year. Before leaving, the head of state told the residents who had come to see him: "All the best!”
Putin's Visit to Novosibirsk
Putin's plane was spotted at Tolmachevo Airport in Novosibirsk on August 11. The president arrived in the city that morning.
In Novosibirsk, the head of state took part in a meeting of the Council for Science and Education, which focused on scientific and technological development. During the meeting, Kurchatov Institute President Mikhail Kovalchuk delivered an extended report. About 20 minutes into his presentation, he asked the president for an opportunity to say "one more word” about genetic research.
"Good grief!” Putin jokingly replied.
"Let me say "good grief!' and explain that the issue is that the [genetic research] database needs to be supplemented with a protein database,” Kovalchuk continued, playing along with the president's joke.
Where Else Did Putin Visit?
Before that, Putin visited Buryatia. On August 10, as part of a working trip, the head of state visited Ulan-Ude. There, he met with urban planners from Russia's Far East and took part in a meeting of the State Council Presidium on the development of public transportation.
The president also held a separate meeting with Buryatia Head Alexei Tsydenov.
