Putin celebrates 74th birthday with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in Moscow
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Putin invited former German Chancellor Schröder to his birthday celebration (Photo: Kremlin)
Vladimir Putin celebrated his 74th birthday Oct. 7 with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who traveled to Moscow, Russian outlet Agentstvo News reported on Oct. 9
The outlet noted that the Kremlin released photographs of Putin and Schröder posing in front of a “traditional Russian stove,” with a samovar and felt boots nearby and horse figurines decorating the stove.
One possible location for the meeting was Putin’s residence in Valdai. A 2021 investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) described several wooden cottages on the property.
According to the Kremlin, Putin learned from media reports on the morning of Oct. 7 that Schröder had arrived in Moscow on business related to the German supermarket chain Globus. The Russian leader then invited his longtime acquaintance to his home.
The Kremlin published photographs of Putin and Schröder on its official Telegram channels and the Max platform, but they did not appear on Putin’s official website. The outlet suggested this could be because the website typically identifies the location of meetings.
The outlet stressed that there was no evidence that the room featuring the Russian stove was located at Putin’s Novo-Ogaryovo residence. However, similar buildings can be found at his Valdai residence. In April 2021, the FBK published an investigation into wooden cottages on the property, which the investigators described as “luxury huts.”
According to the investigation, the residence also includes bathhouses, a sauna, stables, golf and miniature golf courses. The property also features a restaurant with a movie theater, bowling alley, billiards room and mini-casino, as well as a spa complex covering nearly 7,000 square meters.
Schröder, who served as Germany’s chancellor from 1998 to 2005, is known for his close ties to the Kremlin and personal friendship with Putin. After leaving office, he worked for Russian energy companies for years, including Rosneft and Nord Stream.
On May 9, Putin proposed appointing the former chancellor as a European mediator in negotiations to end the war. However, Ukraine opposed the proposal, while Berlin and Brussels also rejected the idea.
On June 2, media outlets spotted Schröder in Moscow for the first time since 2022. His visit was linked to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. He later met with Putin, according to Russian state propaganda media.
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