The Russian Information Agency Novosti begins hotline coverage for Sunday, January 25, 2004.
MOSCOW
* Torches of hero-cities will be lit by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden. The ceremony will be dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Leningrad's absolute liberation from the 900-day Nazi blockade.
* The 12th International Christmas Educational Readings (January 25-31) will open in the State Kremlin Palace. Over 10,000 people will participate in them. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis II and Russian Education Minister Vladimir Filippov will speak at the opening ceremony. Patriarch Alexis II will perform a festive service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior before the readings.
* Moscow State University (MGU) will celebrate the day of its foundation or St. Tatiana's Day. MGU rector Viktor Sadovnichy will invite students from other Russian universities for a party.
* A motor rally of invalids "The Victory Wave" (Moscow - St. Petersburg, January 25-29) will start from the Great Patriotic War Central Museum in the Poklonnaya Hill in connection with the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Leningrad's liberation.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD
* The production of modernized Volga GAZ-31105 will be launched at the Gorky Automobile Plant. According to Director-General of the GAZ open joint stock company Alexei Barentsev, some 200 new cars will be assembled in January. All in all, 72,500 GAZ-31105 cars will be assembled in 2004.
TBILISI
The official inauguration ceremony of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili will take place. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will attend the ceremony. He is scheduled to meet with Mikhail Saakashvili. US Secretary of State Colin Powell, some foreign leaders and renowned politicians and representatives of international organizations will participate in the inauguration ceremony.
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