Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Mr Maslyakov, here we are meeting, as we agreed. Are you here with Mr Gusman (Yuli Gusman, a film director who sits on the KVN jury)?

Alexander Maslyakov:  No, no, I didn’t take the risk. I’ve come alone, as promised.

I’m amazed by how fast all this is happening, frankly. Usually you make plans, and they are not carried out until much later. But in this case, thankfully, everything has worked out perfectly. Thank you for this. And thanks also to Mr Sobyanin, who answered my call during the filming of our programme’s (50th) anniversary show. I’m thankful to him personally and to City Hall. I have no idea what lies in store for me, but I believe something positive should happen now that I’m here with you.

Vladimir Putin: While we were arranging a meeting, Mr Maslyakov said that he would bring Gusman along. But instead, he’s come alone. As for me, I’m not alone – Mr Sobyanin is here as well. He has proposed providing the KVN club with a residence. He’ll tell you all about it himself in a minute. Let me just say that what he has in mind is a detached house, with about 7,000 square metres of space.  Sounds impressive, doesn’t it? In addition, Moscow’s City Hall is willing to subsidise the organisation of various events.

Alexander Maslyakov: That all sounds marvelous, Mr Putin. I'm overjoyed by what you just said.

Sergei Sobyanin: The idea is to provide the KVN club with its very own home in Moscow, in a building that it would be able to use for television shows as well as club activities. KVN is one of the most  popular and large-scale movements among the youth, and it would be great to have a permanent venue where young people interested in KVN and affiliated with it could come together, socialise and prepare future shows. What we’re offering you is a former cinema in Moscow. The building is in good shape, but it will have to be maintained, at any rate. We realise that it may be hard for you to cover all the upkeep expenses on your own. Which is why…

Alexander Maslyakov:  Seeing that building startled me.

Sergei Sobyanin: We’ll look into the possibility of providing a subsidy for your non-profit organisation, so that you can continue with your noble mission of working with young people in the KVN club.  

Alexander Maslyakov:  Thank you.

Sergei Sobyanin: By the way, I know that you have had trouble finding a venue for your televised shows.

Alexander Maslyakov:  Yes, we have had to lead a nomadic lifestyle, but there are sympathisers out there who let us use their facilities.

Sergei Sobyanin: As part of this subsidy, we’ll offer you a package that would enable you to rent a venue large enough for your shows.

Vladimir Putin: There’ll be two types of subsidies – one for the maintenance of the property, and one for the organisation of events that require a large venue. We will lend you a helping hand here as well.

Alexander Maslyakov:  I’m so emotional I can hardly speak. I'm extremely grateful. I simply can’t believe it -- the club will finally have its own nest.

Vladimir Putin: And a big nest, at that – 7,000 square metres!

Sergei Sobyanin: But you’ll have to cover all other expenses on your own. And I have no doubt that you’ll manage. Because, as the name of your club suggests, you have a good sense of humor and a high capacity for inventiveness.

Alexander Maslyakov:  Yes, thank you. This is really fantastic. Let me point out that Moscow has been living without a youth center for quite some time. So perhaps,we’ll be able, along with hosting KVN members, to arrange and host activities for young people who are not affiliated with our club. But to make that happen, we’ll need support from the Moscow Mayor, if not from the Prime Minister.

Sergei Sobyanin: We don’t want this to become the foundation of a commercial enterprise, you see. We want you to remain a non-profit organisation.

Alexander Maslyakov:  We have no desire to open a discotheque.

Sergei Sobyanin: That's the important part. It's true, there are very few youth clubs in Moscow at the moment, and it’s next to impossible to build one from scratch. But building a club on the basis of your KVN movement sounds like it would be great.

Alexander Maslyakov:  Thank you so much. The folks will be so happy. There are a lot of people involved in our movement, you know, and many have been part of it ever since it was founded 50 years ago. It would be great if the authorities in other cities took your example and followed suit, doing something similar for their own communities.

Sergei Sobyanin: Are you going to create a nationwide network now?

Alexander Maslyakov:  No, no. We don’t want to impose anything on people. It’s just that a mayor or a governor would be happy, I think, to see their local KVN team make a good showing on the Moscow scene. Anyway, congratulations to all of the KVN club’s members and to all its fans.

Vladimir Putin: I know that quite a few governors support this.

Alexander Maslyakov:  Those who do help deserve acclaim. Some university executives provide assistance as well.  KVN teams exist everywhere – in the academic as well as the corporate environment. And they receive substantial aid. So it’s great that here, in Moscow, there are also people who are willing to help.

Vladimir Putin: In our previous conversation, we pointed out that in total, almost 20 million people have been involved in the KVN movement since it was founded (50 years ago).

Alexander Maslyakov:  According to our estimates...

Vladimir Putin: …this figure is comparable to the Communist Party membership during the Soviet Union, right?

Alexander Maslyakov:  Yes, if we take into account all the KVN affiliates living in the former Soviet Union and in foreign countries.

Vladimir Putin: This is a game for young people, above all. But while attending your latest game, I noticed that you have an interesting format, with two teams playing (a 20^th-century team and a 21^st-century team). Mr Sobyanin and I have a proposal to make: Why don’t you expand this format by setting up a 19th-century team as well? Your jury could form the core of such a team.

Alexander Maslyakov:  We have school leagues, as well. As for our judges, I don’t think they have the energy now to play on the pitch.

Vladimir Putin: Let them give it a try.

Alexander Maslyakov:  I suggest forming a new panel and transforming the old one into a KVN team.

Vladimir Putin: You should at least suggest it to them. They do have the potential, otherwise they just wouldn’t be on the jury.

Alexander Maslyakov:  They certainly do have the potential. And they will be  very fond of this idea to create a team.

Sergei Sobyanin: I have one more proposal for Mr Maslyakov. Perhaps we could arrange an annual Moscow Mayor's Cup?

Alexander Maslyakov: Yes, great.

Sergei Sobyanin: Since there are quite a few teams in Moscow.

Vladimir Putin: Sounds like a good idea.

Alexander Maslyakov: Yes indeed. We celebrate all of our birthdays – not just the 50^th – with some festive event. Two years ago, for example, we held a CIS Cup. Among the contestants were teams from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. So it would be foolish for us to reject the idea of holding a Moscow Cup.

Vladimir Putin: The very best of luck to you.

Alexander Maslyakov: Thank you so much. Thank you.