Prime Minister Vladimir Putin makes a speech at a nationwide meeting of the Emergencies Ministry

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia at the patriarchal residence in Peredelkino outside Moscow

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the Government Commission on Budgetary Planning

“In 2011, we are going to reform the budget in order to use it more reasonably and effectively. Instead of spending budget resources on a variety of minor projects, we should focus on solving the most important issues in education, healthcare, housing and social policy, national defence and security and other areas of responsibility for the state.”

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has a working meeting with Astrakhan Region Governor Alexander Zhilkin

At the start of the conversation the prime minister noted some positive developments in the region, including robust economic growth, wage increases and housing construction. At the same time, Vladimir Putin noted the decline of investments in fixed capital in the region. He also inquired about the work of the new medical centre and asked about when the new regional theatre would be opened.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Head of the Federal Migration Service Konstantin Romodanovsky

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Head of the Federal Migration Service Konstantin Romodanovsky discussed the situation regarding migrant workers in Russia. Mr Romodanovsky said that some are employed illegally but that the immigration authorities are addressing this issue and will ameliorate the situation. Mr Romodanovsky reported back on their adoption of an electronic document management system, and the process of issuing new documents to those who lost them in the recent wildfires.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holds a meeting in Novo-Ogarevo on the Defence Ministry’s budget

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and the president of Udmurtia, Alexander Volkov, discuss measures to bolster local industries and support agriculture

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the IzhAvto car plant to examine the situation and work out solutions to quickly resume full-scale car production

“The republic’s head and I have discussed IzhAvto and we think it is the brand of the republic and of Izhevsk: everyone is used to the fact that cars are produced here. The only thing we need is to make these cars modern, and increase their popularity on the market so that people want to buy them.”