Why Putin was decorated by the highest state award of Monaco?
Путин - секретный Монакский крестоносец.
Англ версия - от Роберта Эринджера
Russian President Vladimir Putin became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Charles - the highest state award of Monaco.
The award ceremony took place during a private meeting of heads of state in the Kremlin.
Order of Saint Charles - the highest state award of the Principality of Monaco, awarded for diligent service to the Prince of Monaco.
Merit, for which Vladimir Putin was awarded the highest honor of Monaco, the prince's palace refused to clarify.
The prince was a strong supporter of the Olympic Games in Sochi. Russian business is widely represented in Monaco but there is a mixed reputation and attracts the attention of intelligence agencies that combat money laundering.
Decree on awarding Vladimir Putin signed on Oct. 4 - the day when the Russian president was the Prince of Monaco in the Kremlin.
Russian news about the award Putin did not report anything.
But the head of the press service of the Prince's Palace of Monaco Pierre Leticia writing confirmed the award: "I confirm that the presentation of this award took place after aconfidential meeting of heads of state in the Kremlin."
Laetitia Pierre did not answer the question about the motives ceremony.
Shortly after the victory of Russia's bid to host the Winter Olympic Games in 2014, the former adviser to Albert II, Robert Eringer, accused the prince that he selfishly motivated lobbied the IOC Russian interests.
In December 2010 Eringer wrote a letter to then President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, which outlined his allegations.
In particular, the letter says Eringer, Prince Albert took expensive gifts from representatives of the Russian government. One of those gifts was a trip to the North Pole.
In addition, according to Eringer, the Kremlin built for Albert a "dacha" in Monaco.
IOC did not respond.
Тайный крест Владимира Путина
THE ERINGER REPORT: ALBERT'S EXTRAVAGANT GIFT FROM PUTIN: THE IOC NEVER REPLIED
THE ERINGER REPORT: ALBERT KISSES PUTIN'S BUTT