Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Minister of Regional Development Viktor Basargin

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that he has signed a government resolution adding 10 billion roubles to the Housing and Utilities Reform Fund. These funds are intended to stimulate housing construction and to bolster the programme to relocate people living in dilapidated housing.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends the awards ceremony for Russia’s Best Doctor of the Year

“Our main goal is to guarantee quality medical treatment to all our citizens regardless of their place of residence and social status. This treatment must involve the latest advances in disease prevention, treatment and recovery. Russian doctors must have good working conditions and must know the latest technology. Needless to say, doctors must also receive appropriate salaries for their work.”

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holding an emergency meeting with Transport Minister Igor Levitin, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and Deputy Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy Oleg Rozhnov regarding Russian travellers flying to or from Europe

The Prime Minister drew the particular attention of the agency heads to the need for effectual aid for people in the immediate situation, meaning both visa support and organising their departure. The Prime Minister was informed during the meeting that Aeroflot was the only European company that is flying with minimal restrictions.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits one of northwestern Russia’s largest fish processing plants during a working trip to the Murmansk Region

During a working trip to Murmansk, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made an unplanned stop at one of Murmansk's pharmacies to check drug prices

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holds a meeting on the situation at Murmansk shipyards

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holds a meeting in Murmansk on development of shoreline infrastructure for intake, processing, storage and transport of fish products

During the meeting, Vladimir Putin said that the government is ready to consider increasing subsidies for interest rates on loans for organisations in the fishing industry and increasing the amount of so-called preferential lending and short-term loans. Mr Putin pointed out that, 600 million roubles were allocated in 2009 to support the fishing industry.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holds a meeting with Governor of the Murmansk Region Dmitry Dmitriyenko

Mr Putin and Mr Dmitriyenko discussed the performance of utilities services and the expansion of gas supply system in the Murmansk Region. The Prime Minister linked the expansion of gas supply across the region to the development of the Shtokman gas field. “No one cancelled this project,” the prime minister stressed. Regarding problems with utilities services, Mr Putin criticised the Murmansk authorities for faults in the utilities payment systems early in the year.