Hello I'm Vasilis and I live in Athens Greece. I read this very interesting article about Perelman. Unfortunately real life has nothing to do with Mathematical Life. I sympathise Perelman and I can understand his decision of not accepting the Fields Prize. What is more admirable is if he finally does not even accept the 1.000.000 $ prize concidering his financial situation and the bad economic conditions he lives in. Additionaly what is dissapointing is the behavior of this great mathematician S.T. Yau. I could never expect this kind of games of power and politics from a man like him. I guess after all great mathematicians can be very bourgeois.
Mathematics as any other human activity can become a field of severe political ``fights`` for the gaining of power and prbably even fame and profit. Consequently scientific truth becomes of secondary importance.

I can almost fully understand Perelman and his point of view. Especially in the Russian society where the majority of people could care less of his results. The economic transformation of the soviet society and the problems associated with, allow very little space for Perelman's activities.