In his message of congratulations the President said, in particular:
“Your name is deservedly associated with a whole epoch in our country’s life. It is in many ways through you, through your active and fruitful work, that Russia achieved significant success in building a democratic and rule-of-law state, creating a modern civil society and reviving traditional spiritual and moral values. Russia firmly engaged itself on the road of fundamental economic and social transformation and considerably strengthened its authority on the international stage.”