Putin Congratulates Yeltsin on His 70th Birthday

Putin Congratulates Yeltsin on His 70th Birthday

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday morning visited his predecessor Boris Yeltsin at Moscow's Central Clinical Hospital and congratulated him on his 70th birthday.

According to Putin's spokesman Alexei Gromov, the meeting between Putin and Yeltsin lasted for some 40 minutes.

Yeltsin was sent to hospital Tuesday with high fever and a suspected acute viral infection. He is still under intensive medical treatment, doctors said.

Yeltsin's daughter Tatyana Dyachenko on Wednesday expressed her regret over the fact his father is not able to celebrate his birthday properly due to illness.

"Dad wanted to celebrate his birthday with family, without pompous banquets and receptions. But unfortunately the celebration has to be postponed," Dyachenko said.