Having lived and worked in St Petersburg Russia since 2004 it has given me the opportunity to meet with many prominent people who live there. Valery Gergiev happened to be one of them. I was working with Canadian companies wanting to do business in Russia some of whom were trying to get the contract for building materials for the then new Mariinsky theatre - Valery was very hospitable when we met and gave me the most wonderful tour of the facility - also having attended many performances given over the years by Valery he is an extremely talented conductor. His political ideologies should never even be questioned and Kate Taylor has no idea what she is writing about when it comes to Russia - there is NO anti gay law in Russia - it nothing more than the equivalent to our laws protecting children from alcohol and tobacco - Russia is protecting its children from homosexual ideologies and as it should be. I am honoured to include Valerie as a friend and agree with him on all things Russia.