A spokesman for President Vladimir Putin says Putin and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi spent the weekend together at a vacation home in Siberia.
Berlusconi, known to be a close friend of Putin's, has previously hosted Putin's family at his villa on the Italian island of Sardinia.
Earlier this year, Berlusconi, 78, was acquitted of charges he paid an underage prostitute for sex and used his influence to cover it up.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted Monday by Russian news agencies as saying Putin, 62, has not had a summer vacation yet but confirmed he and Berlusconi spent the weekend in the Altai region at a vacation compound owned by gas giant Gazprom.
Berlusconi and Putin met briefly in Rome when Putin was visiting this month.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
