President of Russia: Vladimir Putin announced the launch of the Year of Literature

President of Russia Vladimir Putin visited the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre, where he participated in a celebratory evening honouring the launch of the Year of Literature.

He said: “An initiative was proposed at the Russian Literary Assembly in late 2013 to declare 2015 the Year of Literature… Many ideas expressed at the Literary Assembly were included in the Foundations of State Culture Policy, which were adopted a month ago, and I am confident that they will see good practical development and be implemented well, including in the upcoming Year of Literature.

In recent years, we have given special attention to supporting libraries, relevant public associations and cultural institutions, including writers’ memorial houses and literary museums. And this work will certainly, absolutely be continued.

I count on the Year of Literature to be held truly widely in the capitals and in all Russian regions, to help restore an understanding of good literature to our lives, to young people’s lives and, of course, an appreciation for the written word itself, all the amazing possibilities of the Russian language, which is rightly considered among the most expressive and vivid languages in the world”.