Putin visits general Shamanov in hospital.

(updates)


MOSCOW, October 31 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin has visited Airborne Troops Commander Vladimir Shamanov in the
Burdenko central military hospital. Shamanov was seriously injured in a
road accident on Saturday morning.
Coming into the room, the premier asked how Shamanov felt and noted:
"It is good that at least you are smiling."
Specialists are highly skilled here, and so everything will be good,
Putin assured. "The spirits are high, and it is the main thing," he added.
Shamanov thanked the premier for the visit and said: "We will be
needed yet."
The premier noted he would not speak at the time about what happened,
adding that the main thing was how Shamanov felt.
Speaking to the doctors and hospital executives, Putin noted that
serious work was to be done for the general to regain his health. The
doctors told the prime minister that Shamanov would undergo an operation
next week.
"Even worse had been gone through, hadn't?" Putin asked Shamanov.
The premier said he would not take much time and once again wished the
patient recovery.
Fifty-three-year-old Shamanov got into the accident in the Tula Region
on Saturday morning. The commander's BMW car collided with a MAZ vehicle.
Shamanov was taken to the Burdenko hospital at 19:02 Moscow time. He
has an arm trauma, a shin fracture and brain concussion.
Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov gave directions to take the general
to Moscow.
The head of the Burdenko hospital, Col. Igor Maksimov, said Shamanov
felt satisfactory after the transportation from Tula to Moscow.
Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has expressed confidence
that the airborne troops' commander will recover and return into the ranks.
The minister said this in the Burdenko clinic on Saturday after
visiting the general there, the ministry's press service told Itar-Tass.
"Vladimir Shamanov is a real airborne trooper, and airborne troopers,
as is known, are strong in spirit and physically sturdy people. So, I am
sure he will recover and return into the ranks," Serdyukov said.
The minister also added that all appropriate aid would be provided for
all the servicemen injured in the road accident in Tula and the family of
senior warrant officer Oleg Zineyev who died.
The accident occurred in Tula near Building 82 on Moscow Highway at
09:40 Moscow time. The BMW carrying Shamanov, acting commander of Airborne
Troops Division 106 Col. Alexei Naumets and the commander's aide Oleg
Chernous collided with a MAZ truck.
According to the information of the regional prosecutor's office, the
collision took place on the lane where the BMW ran. The MAZ got into the
other lane and collided with the car. The BMW driver, senior warrant
officer Oleg Zineyev, died in the head-on collision. Shamanov and the
other two passengers received various injuries.
Shamanov was carried by a reanimobile from Tula to Moscow, a distance
of 180 kilometres. The reanimobile was specially sent from the Burdenko
hospital.
A criminal case is opened over the accident on charges of traffic
regulations violation that has caused a death through carelessness
(Article 264, Part 3).
The Tajik national who was at the wheel in the MAZ is detained and
gives explanations to traffic police.
-0-pan