Putin lays wreath at Soviet memorial in Vienna

Putin bowed in front of the monument at Schwarzenbergplatz and laid a wreath at a memorial to fallen Soviet soldiers.

Russian Premier Vladimir Putin laid a wreath at a memorial to fallen Soviet soldiers Sunday, the second day of his visit to Vienna, where he was attending the European judo championships.

Putin bowed in front of the monument at Schwarzenbergplatz, in Vienna's city centre, where he was accompanied by Austrian Defence Minister Norbert Darabos and Interior Minister Maria Fekter.

The memorial commemorates Soviet soldiers who fell in 1945 during the liberation of Austria from the Nazis.

The Russian premier, a keen judoka who has a black belt, was to return later Sunday to the European championship after already attending on Saturday.

During his visit, he also oversaw the signing of two cooperation treaties between Austria and Russia on the South Stream gas pipeline project, and met with Chancellor Werner Faymann and President Heinz Fischer.