Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to attend the wedding of Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl during his visit to the country on August 18, the Kremlin has confirmed.
“Yes, he’s going to make a stop there on his way to Berlin,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists when asked if Putin would attend the wedding.
The Russian president’s aide, Yury Ushakov, also confirmed Putin’s attendance: “We’ll be there to deliver our congratulations.”
The wedding ceremony of Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl and her fiance, businessman Wolfgang Meilinger, will take place on Saturday at a winery in the Austrian state of Styria.
Later on August 18, the Russian president is scheduled to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
Austrian security forces, including the elite Cobra police unit, are thoroughly preparing for Putin’s arrival and have already held several detailed discussions with the future wife and husband.
An unnamed security source told Kronen Zeitung paper that snipers will be employed to ensure security at the wedding.
The Russian leader has already visited Austria this year. He arrived in Vienna on June 5 for what was his first official foreign visit after re-election in May. It was during that trip that he received an invitation from Kneissl to be a guest at her wedding.
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