Hollywood star agent says 'unaware' if Putin's fundraiser pays off for hospitals

Hollywood star agent says 'unaware' if Putin's fundraiser pays off for hospitals

11:17 08/03/2011

The agent of actor Mickey Rourke, who took part in a Russian cancer charity event last year that famously featured Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, has said he is unaware whether any donations have been made to the fundraiser.

The event, held in St. Petersburg's Ice Palace in aid of children diagnosed with cancer, saw Putin swap - albeit briefly - his strongman image for the unlikely Vlad the Singer doppelganger.

However, doubts have been raised about the donations after a woman whose daughter is being treated for cancer in a St. Petersburg hospital complained last week that "there had been no money and no help" from the fundraiser.

She said the charity foundation "The Federation" which organized the December event "is not registered and has no website; no one knows anything about it."

"I cannot tell you if any funds were raised [by the event]," Rourke's agent at the International Creative Management told RIA Novosti.

Putin's spokesman moved to deflect the skepticism on Monday, saying that sponsors had been found to provide three hospitals with the needed equipment, but added that deliveries would take a few more months.

"It's important to understand how charity funds work," he said.

In a staggering makeover, Putin played a sentimental song from a Soviet-era spy series on the piano and sang his version of Blueberry Hill to a standing ovation from the likes of Mickey Rourke, Sharon Stone, Kevin Costner and Monica Belucci.

MOSCOW, March 8 (RIA Novosti)

Medvedev wishes women spring warmth and excellent sentiments

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=16020407

08.03.2011, 11.19

MOSCOW, March 8 (Itar-Tass) - President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated women on the holiday. “Dear women, congratulations on the holiday! I wish you spring warmth and excellent sentiments! We love you!” the head of state wrote in his microblog in Twitter.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=16020255

08.03.2011, 09.23

MOSCOW, March 8 (Itar-Tass) - It depends, above all, on men whether women beautify men’s life, claimed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. He congratulated women reporters of the government pool and all Russian women on the holiday on the eve of March 8.

“Sure, we men want very much that women should be beautification of our life,” he acknowledged. “But it depends, above all, on us whether women become beautification of our life,” the premier noted, addressing more likely representatives of the male sex.

According to the prime minister, women “always accompany us along the entire life”. “Women give life to all of us. And that’s it. But this is not all. We look at first at our mummy, granny and then are growing up. Later, we have girl-friends, wives and then daughters. Those who have no daughters, have daughters-in-law,” Putin added.

“Of course, women are very different. But they are always beautiful,” he concluded in a philosophical mood.

Speakers of both parliament chambers congratulate women on March 8

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=16020482&PageNum=0

08.03.2011, 11.46

MOSCOW, March 8 (Itar-Tass) - Russian women possess unique qualities and should be represented better in politics. An appropriate confidence was expressed on Tuesday by speaker of the Russian Federation Council upper chamber Sergei Mironov in his congratulatory message to Russian women on March 8.

“The Russian woman is a unique human being,” the speaker claimed. “It is surprising how our women, taking into account their tense work and difficult every-day life, manage to remain beautiful and charming!”

“Your energy, cordiality, optimism, readiness to get down to resolving the most difficult problems, ability to create a cosy life and comfort under the most difficult conditions, to combine in yourselves qualities of excellent worker and loving as well as careful wife and mother, last but not least, your ability to forgive – are unchallenged,” he emphasised, addressing Russian women.

“Possessing such qualities, Russian women should be represented in all arms of government in greater numbers, should participate more actively in political processes and in hammering out a strategy on settling pressing social problems,” Mironov said with confidence.

He regretted in this context that Russia “has only a few women legislators, although 60-70 percent of voters are women”. Therefore, the Federation Council head sees one of the chamber’s tasks in “creating necessary conditions in the country for manifestation of professional qualities and merits by women”.

Mironov wished Russian women on this holiday that all congratulations addressed to them “were sincere indeed, permeated with love, care and understanding”. “Let the spring reign in nature too as well as in the heart of each of you!” he added.

In the meantime, the speaker addressed also representatives of the male sex, reminding an old joke that “real men take care of women 365 days a year, while others – on March 8”. In this context, he advised them in his Internet-diary not to limit themselves to beautiful words, addressed to women, but “to make such things for them so that their life should turn into a holiday rather than a date in the calendar”.

For his part, speaker of the lower chamber of the Russian parliament Boris Gryzlov also wished in his congratulations on International Women’s Day that “attention and love should not be only words, but should be buttressed by specific deeds and actions”. “I’m always fascinated with your outside weakness and inside stamina, as well as ability to love and preserve family,” acknowledged the State Duma speaker. “You make the world brighter, sunny and more humane. Wish you happiness, love and well-being!”