Putin To Spend Birthday In Siberian Solitude

Russian President Vladimir Putin (file photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to take his birthday off from work and will spend the day in the Siberian taiga.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on October 6 that the Russian president "is taking October 7 off from work."

Peskov said Putin would depart later in the day for a place in Siberia that was "some 300 to 400 kilometers from the closest inhabited place."

Peskov did not specify where in Siberia Putin planned to spend his 62nd birthday but Peskov said part of the reason for the choice was a scheduled meeting with officials in Siberia on October 8.

Putin usually works on his birthday and Peskov offered no explanation for Putin's decision to "rest" on this date.

Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax