CELLISSIMO GRANDIOSO

9

"In all your life and creative

work you have many times

shown the truth that art and

morality together supplement

each other and constitute a

single goal. In all of the world

you are known not only as a

brilliant cellist and gifted

conductor but as a confirmed

defender of human rights and

freedom of spirit and an

uncompromising fighter for

the ideals of democracy,"

Putin said.