Russia cancels PM's Bolshoi Theatre programme due to state mourning

The gala closing ceremony of the 'Year of India in Russia' at the famous Bolshoi Theatre here due to be attend by prime minister Manmohan Singh and his counterpart Vladimir Putin tomorrow has been cancelled in the wake of state mourning in memory of the 112 victims of the nightclub fire tragedy.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has declared national mourning tomorrow in memory of 112 people killed in nightclub fire on Friday night in Russia's Urals city of Perm.

Under presidential decree flags will fly at half mast in the country and all the theatres would be closed.

TV and radio stations have also cancel entertainment programmes tomorrow when the funeral of victims of nightclub fire would take place.

Prime minister Singh arrived here today on a three-day visit to Russia during which the two sides are expected to sign a framework agreement on civil nuclear cooperation and three defence pacts.