The Russia Blog
Vladimir Putin, Russia’s premier pacifist, has racked up yet another global accolade – the world renowned Confucius Peace Prize.
The organisers awarded the prize to Putin for his outstanding contribution to world peace – namely opposing the bombing of Libya. Qiao Damo, a member of the organising committee told reporters that “this April or… Read the rest
Putin goes on holiday, and gets his top off for the ladies… again.
Speculation is whizzing around the internet that a photo from the 1980s shows a KGB-era Vladimir Putin standing next to US President Ronald Reagan in Red Square, pretending to be a tourist.
Here’s the picture, discovered in the Reagan archives. Apparently, Putin’s the guy on the left in the stripy t-shirt, camera hanging nonchalantly round… Read the rest
Dmitry Medvedev gives his first annual state of the nation speech, and announces that he’d like to extend the Russian Presidential term from 4 to 6 years. So what does the world’s press write about?
That Russia plans to deploy missiles close to the EU’s border to neutralise the US missile shield. Oh, and… Read the rest
Sometimes I think I’ve seen every bonkers story Russia has to throw at me. Then I find out that someone has given Vladimir Putin a tiger cub for his 56th birthday.
Old softie that Putin is, the tiger cub will be called Mashenka – “Sweetie”.
Disappointingly though, rather than keeping the tiger in his… Read the rest
Which way is Russia really heading today? Is Russia on the way to leadership by personality cult, or on the hard way to true democracy?
Not content with being Russia’s next Prime Minister, it appears that Vladimir Putin also has his sights set on being the head of the ruling United Russia party. According to news reports, he’ll be announced as party boss next week.
Tonight, for the first time in more than a decade, top-flight Russian football will be played in Chechnya. After years of playing in exile, Terek Grozny have finally been granted permission to play at their home city.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel becomes the first head of state since the election to formally meet both Putin and Medvedev.
Dmitry Medvedev is Russia�s new President. But what kind of President will he be? Will he wield actual power, or will he just be Putin’s right hand man?
Is Russia’s outgoing President really the world’s fourth richest man?
Now, I know Vladimir Putin has a certain… mystique. But I must confess, I’d never thought of Russia’s President as particularly sexy.
But, apparently, Putin’s good looks send the Japanese weak at the knees. In a recent poll, they voted Putin the world’s fifth most attractive politician.
Only Junichiro Koizumi (Japan), Shintaro Ishihara… Read the rest
Russian security services claim that they have uncovered a plan by a group of suicide bombers to assassinate Russian President Putin during his visit to Iran later this week. Advisors have informed Putin of the threat – but he’s going to visit Tehran anyway.
It’s not clear who wants to kill Putin – apparently… Read the rest
The entire Russian cabinet, including its Prime Minister has just resigned. A new PM hasn’t been chosen yet, but I’d be surprised if the announcement of Putin’s designated ‘heir’ isn’t imminent.
Especially when Putin gives quotes like this:
“The country is nearing parliamentary elections to be followed by presidential elections… We all need to think together about
President Putin’s speech to the Olympic Committee in Guatemala is widely credited as being one of the key factors that tipped the Winter Olympic vote in Sochi’s favour.
And now, you can see the speech in its entirety (plus some dodgy introductory music), courtesy of Russia Today:
I have to say, I… Read the rest
