Mr Putin spoke to Mr Ginzburg on the telephone and personally congratulated him on the occasion.
The President said that he had signed a decree awarding Mr Ginzburg the Order for Services to the Fatherland, first degree.
Mr Putin noted that the state places such a high value not only on Mr Ginzburg’s contribution to physics, to which he has devoted his whole life, but also on his efforts to encourage the promotion of intellect and innovative thinking.
That morning, the President also sent Mr Ginzburg a telegram of congratulations, which reads in particular:
“You are one of the great minds of modern times whose merits have been deservedly rewarded with international recognition and the honoured title of winner of the Nobel Prize. Your fundamental research and developments have made an important contribution to developing some of the most advanced areas of scientific thought. The fruitful educational, organisational and public activity, to which you have always given great attention, also deserves our genuine respect.”