Russia: Mikhalkov, Author of Soviet and Russian Anthem, Dead at 96

The Moscow Times ^ | 08/28/09 | Nabi Abdullaev

[TigerLikesRooster]

Mikhalkov, Author of Soviet and Russian Anthem, Dead at 96

28 August 2009

By Nabi Abdullaev / The Moscow Times

Sergei Mikhalkov, author of the lyrics of the Soviet and Russian national anthems and a Rolls-Royce of Soviet poetry for more than four decades, died Thursday in a Moscow hospital. He was 96.

"He died of old age. He simply fell asleep," said his grandson, film producer Yegor Konchalovsky, RIA-Novosti reported.

President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin offered condolences to his family, including his two sons, prominent film directors Oscar-winning Nikita Mikhalkov and Andrei Konchalovsky.

Both of his sons were abroad at the time of his death, news reports said.

Mikhalkov was hospitalized after suffering from a heart attack in February but celebrated his 96th birthday the next month back home with his family.

Born in Moscow on March 13, 1913, Mikhalkov wrote his first lyrics at the age of 9 and published his first song in 1928 in a Rostov-on-Don literature magazine, the poet wrote in his 1995 autobiography "I Was a Soviet Writer."

He rose to national prominence in 1935 with the publication of his popular children's book "Uncle Styopa," known as "Uncle Steeple" in the English version. The book is a simple rhythmic poem about an extra-tall Muscovite who becomes a police officer and carries out a series of charitable and heroic deeds, one after another.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Exactly

[RolandOfGilead]

Actually demographic trend is rapidly improving in Russia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Natural_Population_Growth_Trends_in_Russia.png