Russian president Vladimir Putin would visit Bulgaria on January 17 and 18, the press office of the Bulgarian President said.

The visit of Russian president Putin, who will travel with his wife Lyudmila Putina, would start on January 17 with a concert on the occasion of the Russian Year in Bulgaria, Bulgarian news agency BTA said.

The programme for January 18 includes a ceremony on Ploshtad St Aleksandar Nevski and a meeting between Putin and President Georgi Purvanov, followed by plenary meetings between Russian and Bulgarian delegations.

Putin will have meetings with Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and spokesman of the National Assembly Georgi Pirinski.

Purvanov and Putin will visit a Bulgarian-Russian exhibition at the national military history museum, devoted to the 130-years since the liberation of  Bulgaria.