Putin visits General Shamanov, Commander of Russian Airborne Forces in hospital

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, walks to greet Lt. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov, the commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, right, in the military hospital in Moscow, Russia, late Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010. Shamanov was involved in a serious car accident on Saturday. (Getty Images / AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

MOSCOW, October 30 (KATAKAMI / Itar-Tass) --- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has visited Airborne Troops Commander Vladimir Shamanov in the Burdenko central military hospital. Shamanov was seriously injured in a road accident on Saturday morning.

Coming into the room, the premier asked how Shamanov felt and noted: "It is good that at least you are smiling."

Specialists are highly skilled here, and so everything will be good, Putin assured. “The spirits are high, and it is the main thing,” he added.

Shamanov thanked the premier for the visit and said: "We will be needed yet."

The premier noted he would not speak at the time about what happened, adding that the main thing was how Shamanov felt.

Speaking to the doctors and hospital executives, Putin noted that serious work was to be done for the general to regain his health. The doctors told the prime minister that Shamanov would undergo an operation next week.

Fifty-three-year-old Shamanov got into the accident in the Tula Region on Saturday morning. The BMW car in which he was collided with a MAZ vehicle. Shamanov was taken to the Burdenko hospital at 19:02 Moscow time. He has an arm trauma, a shin fracture and brain concussion.

(MS)

Photostream : Russian PM Putin & Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin takes part in an expedition to Ubsunur Hollow Biosphere Preserve

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R), Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu (C) and former Government Chief of Staff and newly-appointed Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin take part in an expedition to Ubsunur Hollow Biosphere Preserve to inspect the snow leopard's habitat in Tyva Republic in the Siberian Federal District in this undated photo.

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L, front) and former Government Chief of Staff and newly-appointed Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin (R, front) take part in an expedition to Ubsunur Hollow Biosphere Preserve to inspect the snow leopard's habitat in Tyva Republic in the Siberian Federal District in this undated photo. (Getty Images / REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Pool/Alexei Druzhinin )

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin rides a horse as he takes part in an expedition to Ubsunur Hollow Biosphere Preserve to inspect the snow leopard's habitat in Tyva Republic in the Siberian Federal District in this undated photo. (Getty Images / REUTERS / Ria Novosti / Pool/Alexei Druzhinin )

Photos : Russian PM Vladimir Putin And his wife Lyudmila Putina takes part in all-Russia population census

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and his wife Lyudmila (C) talk to a census-taker as they participate in a nationwide population count at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow October 16, 2010. Putin and his wife Lyudmila made a rare joint public appearance over the weekend seeking to reaffirm their marriage amid persistent divorce rumours. Picture taken October 16, 2010. (Getty Images / REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Alexei Druzhinin/Pool )

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, and his wife Lyudmila Putina, second right, participate in the All-Russian population census at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila invited a census taker to their suburban residence to fill in the census questionnaire. Russia on Thursday launched a two-week population census, its first since 2002 and second in its post-Soviet history. (Getty Images /AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexey Druzhinin, pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, and his wife Lyudmila Putina, second right, participate in the All-Russian population census at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila invited a census taker to their suburban residence to fill in the census questionnaire. Russia on Thursday launched a two-week population census, its first since 2002 and second in its post-Soviet history. (Getty Images / AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexey Druzhinin, pool)

Russia to deliver 35 tanks to Venezuela - Putin

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, are seen during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, Oct. 15, 2010 Chavez has reached a deal with Russia on Friday to build the South American country's first nuclear plant and negotiated other energy agreements. (GETTY IMAGES / AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

October 15, 2010 (KATAKAMI / RIA NOVOSTI) --- Russia will soon supply another shipment of tanks to Venezuela, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday.

"Thirty-five tanks will be delivered soon," he said.

Putin also said Venezuela is Russia's "reliable partner."

Chavez said the two states would speed up military cooperation. Venezuela is building a plant to manufacture Kalashnikov assault rifles.

Since 2005, Venezuela has bought over $4 billion worth of Russian weapons, including warplanes, helicopters, and Kalashnikov assault rifles.

Earlier on Friday, Russia and Venezuela signed an agreement on the construction of a nuclear power station in the South American state. The agreement was reached in April 2010 during Putin's visit to Caracas.

The presidents of Russia and Venezuela, Dmitry Medvedev and Chavez, said on Friday bilateral ties are strengthening.

We are moving onto new agreements on a wide range of projects," Medvedev said at talks in Moscow. "We have a strategic partnership - we are close friends."

Medvedev also said Venezuela acted "like a real friend" when it followed Russia in recognizing the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia after Chavez's last visit to Russia in September 2009.
Chavez arrived in Moscow on Thursday as part of an international tour that also includes Belarus, Ukraine and Iran.


NOVO-OGARYOVO, October 15 (RIA Novosti)