German maestro Justus Frantz accepts Kremlin honor from Putin

Justus Frantz, 81, received Russia’s Order of Friendship at the Kremlin, praising Russian culture despite the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) awards German pianist, conductor Justus Frantz with the Order of Friendship during an award ceremony marking the National Unity Day at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 04 November 2025. The National Unity Day (or Day of People's Unity) is annually celebrated in Russia on 04 November. The Unity Day is a national ho

Photo: EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

German conductor and pianist Justus Frantz accepted the Order of Friendship from Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, shaking the Russian leader’s hand and posing for photographs.

“It is a great honor to be here today and receive such an important decoration,” Frantz said in Russian.

“All my life, I wanted to play Russian music and work for your culture,” he added.

Frantz, born in 1944 in the Polish city of Inowrocław, has long expressed admiration for Putin, previously calling him “a cultured man.” He has traveled to Russia regularly and marked his 80th birthday last year in St Petersburg.

The musician has repeatedly criticized Western sanctions on Russia and spoken favorably about the 2014 armed annexation of Crimea.

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Source: PAP