Russian President Vladimir Putin meets elderly residents of the village of Staraya Ladoga - chosen to host the national conference on the smaller townships and villages development.

Russian president Vladimir Putin (center) and presidential representative in the Northwestern Federal District Valentina Matvienko (left) meet with inhabitants of Staraya Ladoga village.

The Leningradsky Region Governor Valery Serdukov (left), Presidential Representative in the Northwestern Federal District of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko (3d from the left), the first deputy of the Minister of Culture Natalia Dementieva (4th from the left) and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin (centre) met with residents of the Staraya Ladoga village.