Putin arrives in Yakutsk for first time in 10 years

YAKUTSK. June 18 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Yakutsk on Tuesday before setting off to visit North Korea and Vietnam.

Putin, who initially planned to visit Yakutsk at the beginning of the year, will be shown the achievements and prospects of the creative and IT sectors of the republic of Sakha (Yakutia), which is home to the Far East's first and largest cluster supporting creative industries, such as animation, media, videogames, digital content, artificial intelligence, and design. In Yakutsk, the president will inspect the Patrioticheskaya advanced development territory, set up to support the production of goods for the needs of the special military operation.

Putin will also review the Far East's development projects including the Country Doctor, Country Teacher and Muravyov-Amursky 2030 (aimed at training high-ranking executives for government agencies in the Far East Administrative District).

The president will meet with participants in these programs and cultural professionals who made their choice in favor of working in the Far East.

In addition, Putin is expected to visit Yakutia's Higher School of Music, which is among Russia's 500 best universities and trains musical art and culture specialists.

Putin will also meet with the region's head Aisen Nikolayev.

Putin initially planned to visit Yakutia back in mid-January 2024, but could not do that because of adverse weather. Putin confirmed in March that he would visit Yakutia "in the near future".

Putin's previous visit to Yakutia was ten years ago, in 2014. Prior to that, he visited Yakutsk in January 2006 during the Orthodox Christmas holidays, when local air temperatures were as cold as 50 degrees below zero.