President Putin meets secondary school graduates

On Tuesday at about 11 p.m. President Vladimir Putin of Russia quite unexpectedly arrived at the reviewing platform on Vorobyevy Hills in Moscow. At that time there were about 400 secondary school graduates there, who had gathered there after their graduation balls that evening.

The President's appearance came as a complete surprise to the graduates, for on the day before this was not on Vladimir Putin's plans.

As an ORT correspondent reported from the site, security measures were minimal and the Presidential guard appeared there only several minutes ahead of the President. Last night the President was flying to Canada to attend the G-8 summit and decided on the way to the airport to change the route and make a pleasant surprise to the school graduates.

The graduates gave the president an enthusiastic welcome. He spent about half an hour with the graduates and at their request made a photo with them. He asked them about their studies and future plans. And they, in turn, wished the president success at the G-8 summit in Canada.