Oleg Chuprov, the author of the words of the anthem of St. Petersburg, died at the age of 86.

The poet Oleg Chuprov, the author of the words of the anthem of St. Petersburg, died at the age of 87. This was announced on March 10 by the city's Committee for Culture.

"Oleg Chuprov, the author of the St. Petersburg national anthem, has passed away. <...> Oleg Akimovich is the author of the lines <...> "The Imperial City is crowned with beauty...", written to the music of [composer Reinhold] Glier," according to the Telegram channel of the department.

It is noted that the poet has published 15 poetry and song collections. Compositions based on his words were performed by such famous singers as Joseph Kobzon, Eduard Khil and others.

"We express our condolences to Oleg Akimovich's family and friends," the committee wrote.

As he writes "Газета.ги Chuprov began his professional literary career in the 1960s. In 1974, he graduated from the Gorky Literary Institute, and in 1991 became a member of the USSR Writers' Union. The poet published his first poems in the collection Roll Call in 1966, and his first independent book— A Date with His Father, was published 23 years later.

In 2003, a version of the text of the anthem of St. Petersburg, written by Chuprov, won the competition of the city administration.